Former CSU leader Huber condemns Söder's approach towards the Greens.
Bavarian Premier Söder has gone after the Greens, refusing to form coalitions with them at the state or federal level if CSU is involved. A former CSU leader, Erwin Huber, disagrees with this strategy. Huber also advises Söder to move to federal politics alongside a possible future Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Previous CSU head Erwin Huber has criticized Markus Söder for his harsh treatment, particularly toward the Greens. "The Green Party gets blamed for anything that emerges from the Green spectrum into the world. The Greens must take responsibility for things they never made or demanded," he told Spiegel. Huber jokingly added, "Or do you mean they want to snatch my sausage?" Söder's approach, he says, is excessive and excessive, like his comparison of Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke with former East German leader Erich Honecker.
Söder had already dismissed the concept of a coalition with the Greens on the federal level at the beginning of the month at the CDU party congress. "I don't know if our voters would see this as a real blessing if the traffic light and the Greens, who dominate the traffic light content-wise, then get an extension in the form of the Greens," he explained. Since 2018, he has led a government with the Free Voters in Bavaria.
Excluding cooperation with the Greens from the CDU and the CSU, Huber thinks this path is wrong. "In a time when language, for example on the internet, is becoming more coarse and fewer commonalities are found, the cooperation of all democrats is crucial."
Söder suggested Huber transition to federal politics as well to help with potential Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "Due to the new electoral law, the CSU is in an existential crisis," he continued. "And in such a situation, our best talents need to go to the front line. It's a historical, indeed a sacred duty for the CSU chairman to lead the way in battle."
The 77-year-old Huber considers the AfD the most dangerous right-wing party in post-war Germany. "Many people are overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change and the lack of clarity. Just as people in the Middle Ages built castles, many are now retreating into nationalism," he said.
Huber has long been an advocate for more climate protection in politics. "We can't control everything through bans and regulations, but the state must encourage behavior by significantly strengthening incentives for environmentally friendly actions," he emphasized. Markus Söder will likely disagree.
Erwin Huber was CSU chairman for close to a year from September 2007 until he was succeeded by Horst Seehofer following a disappointing state election. He previously held numerous ministerial positions in Bavaria since 1994.
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Despite his condemnation, former CSU leader Erwin Huber still advocates for cooperation between democrats, especially in light of the current divisive language and lack of commonalities. This contrasts with Markus Söder's ongoing refusal to form coalitions with Alliance 90/The Greens at the state or federal level, a stance he maintained even with the potential of a Chancellorship under Friedrich Merz.
