New farmer in sixth place: CSU nominates candidates
After top candidate Manfred Weber, the other most promising CSU candidates for the European elections next June have also been chosen. On Saturday, existing MEPs Angelika Niebler, Christian Doleschal, Monika Hohlmeier and Markus Ferber and newcomer Stefan Köhler were elected to places two to six on the list. To date, the CSU has been represented in the European Parliament by six MEPs. Agricultural expert Marlene Mortler will not be standing again this time.
Angelika Niebler, who has been a member of the EU Parliament since 1999, was nominated at a delegates' meeting in Nuremberg with just under 97 percent of the vote. Doleschal in third place received just under 91% of the vote, and Hohlmeier in fourth place around 94%.
Markus Ferber has been with the party the longest: the 58-year-old has been an MEP since 1994 and is in fifth place on the list this time. He received 93 percent of the valid votes in Nuremberg. New to the list, in sixth place, is Stefan Köhler from Lower Franconia. The farmer was elected with almost 94 percent of the votes cast.
Before the election, Söder had thanked the previous MEPs and called on his own party to show more appreciation for their work. "To be honest, it is totally impressive to see what our brave troops - there is no other way to put it, almost like a Gallic village surrounded by the others - manage to prevent, change and improve time and time again," said Söder.
The CSU is preparing for upcoming European elections, where they will field several candidates. Besides Manfred Weber, candidates like Angelika Niebler, Christian Doleschal, Monika Hohlmeier, Markus Ferber, and the newcomer Stefan Köhler from Lower Franconia were chosen for the party list. These elections are crucial for the CSU as they aim to maintain their representation in the European Parliament.
Source: www.dpa.com
