The CSU wants to find its way back to its former strength with a new “Bavaria narrative”.

As party chairman Markus Söder said on Friday after a meeting of the party executive in Munich, the difference between the “traffic light north” and the “free south”, which is defending itself against the new federal government, should be worked out.

Söder emphasized that he believed that the traffic lights, which he called “Prussian” and “less federal”, wanted to “rule through”.

For the Union, the opposition will be "hard bread", especially at the beginning, when the new partners are in a "honeymoon".

For Bavaria, too, it will be “not an easy path” until the state elections in 2023.

Timo Frasch

Political correspondent in Munich.

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Söder outlined how the CSU intends to make a name for itself: not only as a bulwark in the south, but also as a "guardian for social security" against a traffic light that is "higher earners" because of the FDP and the Greens. The CSU should use the fact that it is no longer in the “compromise machine of a grand coalition” to formulate clear positions. With the coalition partner Free Voters one wants to open a "new chapter of familiarity". They want to show “as Bavaria” how we govern, namely well. The Bavarian state government will have to position itself more strongly in terms of federal politics. In the party structures it is important to stimulate the birth of new ideas. Söder summarized this in the formula "More idealism instead of materialism".

In addition, Söder asserted that they would “in no way” interfere in the election of a new CDU boss, that they were “relying on the strength and sovereignty of the CDU”.

Contrary to earlier demands from the CSU, this also applies to the time of the election.

An external signal for a restart was a ban on cell phones in the board meeting.

Söder said that "worked out great" and was good for the debate.

It should be continued.

Söder complains about the vaccination quota in Bavaria

Corona vaccination shows that the south does not have to be exemplary in every case. Söder complained about a north-south divide, especially within Bavaria. In general, the Prime Minister expressed great concern about the rapidly deteriorating situation. It is not just a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”, it could also be the “hardest winter” so far in the “Corona challenge”. You don't want a lockdown. There are of course two priorities: the maintenance of the school and the stability of the hospitals. Söder called on “footballers and others” to “live up to their role model function” and to get vaccinated. Without a further increase in the vaccination quota “it will be very difficult for us to meet this challenge”. One must therefore react and “make guidelines”.

The Bavarian cabinet should deal with it on Wednesday.

For example, an extensive mask requirement is to be reintroduced in schools.

In several Bavarian districts, stricter provisions on the mask requirement and participation in public events apply from Monday.

Söder called for a campaign for third party vaccinations regardless of age.