Cabinet reform in conversation: When Horst Seehofer offered to resign

display

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) offered his party chairman Markus Söder his immediate resignation in the autumn to clear the way for a cabinet reshuffle.

But the CSU boss, who repeatedly called for a “rejuvenation”, refused.

According to information from this newspaper, Seehofer had asked for a personal interview because Söder had repeatedly publicly suggested or even requested new staff for the federal government.

As early as January 2020, the CSU boss had proposed that the cabinet be “strengthened with new and fresh forces”.

Seehofer is 71 years old and has been involved in top politics for decades.

Söder later postponed the claim due to Corona, but repeated at the beginning of this week: "It has to be looked at in terms of personnel, how can you combine competence with younger people."

Interior Ministry wanted to achieve a "shock effect"

display

Seehofer did not want to be accused of standing in the way of a renewal.

In the spring, he also criticized the corona policy as being too hesitant.

A strategy paper prepared by the Home Office had suggested more resolute measures against the virus.

The government should rely on “big data and location tracking” and impose long curfews.

Communication with the population should also be intensified in order to achieve a “shock effect”.

But Chancellor Merkel opted for a milder strategy.

The discussion between Seehofer and Söder took place in private, over breakfast in the Bavarian state representation in Berlin.

On this occasion, Seehofer offered to make his office available.

display

This would have given Söder the opportunity to send a new interior minister to Berlin and also to renew the CSU ministerial team.

Above all, the CSU Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer sees himself exposed to severe criticism because of the failed toll.

As Minister of the Interior, Building and Home Affairs, Seehofer heads the largest ministry in the federal government.

This departmental design is due to turbulent nightly coalition negotiations with the SPD and is considered impractical by critics.

Seehofer's withdrawal would have given Merkel the opportunity to reform the cabinet, in which the government, which was recently criticized for its corona management, would have repositioned itself.

According to information in this newspaper, however, Söder decided against cabinet reform without consulting Merkel.

Rather, he expressly asked Horst Seehofer to complete the legislative period in office.