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Munich (dpa) - CSU boss Markus Söder makes not only unity between himself and CDU boss Armin Laschet, despite his relenting in the power struggle for the Union's candidacy for chancellor.
"There is no personal break between us, but we have a different understanding of democracy and program," said the Bavarian Prime Minister in an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (Saturday).
Laschet had prevailed against Söder in the dispute over the candidacy for chancellor on Tuesday, whereupon Söder had promised him backing without resentment and with full strength.
The decision of a committee is important, said Söder of the "Süddeutsche", without explicitly mentioning the vote of the CDU federal executive for Laschet.
"But the belief that political or personal decisions can still be made in the committees today, completely independently of the basis and the expectations of the people, is not in keeping with the times."
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When asked what made his bid for the candidacy different from Laschets, Söder replied to the newspaper: “It was clear to me that we needed a fresh start for the Union.
I don't think it would be wise to make a “Helmut Kohl 2.0” policy out of the past after the progressive Merkel years.
That would be way too old-fashioned.
Nobody wants the old union from the 90s back.
We need a political new deal instead of old school. "
In the federal election in September, Söder expects the Union to achieve a result of more than 30 percent.
"It has to be a result that is well over 30 percent - closer to 35 percent," he said.
In the 2017 election, the sister parties together had achieved 32.9 percent.
He also called on the CDU boss: “We will do everything for a good Bavarian result, but of course the core responsibility always rests with the candidate for chancellor, also for the result in Bavaria.
Because today candidates draw the parties and not the other way around. "
The Union must formulate its ambitions and issue an election target.
"And from my point of view that cannot be the hope of saving yourself into a three-way constellation," he said.
"Our competitors are the Greens, our opponent is the AfD."
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His persistence against Laschet had, in addition to the backing of surveys, reasons for content, as Söder explained to the newspaper. “I was also not convinced by the reasons for the candidacy. I stand for a modernization in the program, ”he said. This includes the topic of the environment. “For us, the Greens are politically and intellectually the most demanding competitor. Answering this with arguments from thirty years ago is no longer an option for large parts of the population. "
For Laschet as a candidate of the Union, the fact that he successfully ruled the large state of North Rhine-Westphalia and was a man of balance, said Söder.
«It is a great good to integrate;
he is suitable for this position and has my support. "
He himself accepted the vote of the CDU federal executive committee out of responsibility for the Union.
He was “more at peace with the result than parts of the CDU base”.
"But one thing is also clear: The decision was in the hands of the CDU, which also takes responsibility for the procedure and the result."
He will be an active part of the election campaign, promised Söder: "As Paulchen Panther always says: Today is not every day, I'll be back, no question."
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