CSU leader - Söder names criteria for the Union's candidacy for chancellor - and lashes out at Thunberg
In the debate about the right candidate for Chancellor of the CDU/CSU, CSU leader Markus Söder has formulated criteria for the job. "The key question for the chancellor candidacy is: Who can bundle the Union's votes most strongly? The CDU must then decide," Söder told stern magazine. "We are not running for a vacation job here. It's about making Germany fit." Söder continued: "It's like a penalty shoot-out: Who can you trust to take the last penalty kick? That's what politicians have to be made of - regardless of whether they are prime minister or want to become chancellor."
In the event of an early election, CDU leader Friedrich Merz would "certainly be the favorite", said Söder. He denied his own interest in standing for the CDU/CSU in the next general election. "An option as a candidate for chancellor is only offered to a CSU chairman once in a lifetime." He described the cooperation with Merz as "really very good".
However, Söder distanced himself from Merz's controversial plumber statement. "Plumber is a very respectable profession," the 56-year-old told stern magazine. "And because I'm a big Reinhard Mey fan, I've always really liked his song 'Ich bin Klempner von Beruf'." People expect a good plumber to "make everything that was broken work again in the end". Söder continued: "Sometimes you wait eagerly for him." Merz had described the Chancellor in the Bundestag as a "plumber of power" and subsequently criticized the plumber himself: "He turns small screws, but he is not able to make the whole structure work," said the CDU leader. The comments had also caused irritation within the CDU/CSU.
Söder praises Hollywood's top gun films
In the stern interview, Söder also came down hard on the Greens and left-wing activism. He called on environmental activist Greta Thunberg to take up an education. "Greta Thunberg would be more convincing with a proper education than with disturbing statements on the Middle East conflict," said Söder. "Diligence has never hurt anyone." Thunberg had recently taken a sharp stance against Israel in the Gaza war, causing anger among environmental activists.
Söder also criticized a "wokeness philosophy" in the political debate. "We are currently experiencing a rollback because wokeness is getting on many people's nerves. Everyone is allowed to talk the way they want. Everyone is allowed to use genders however they want. But when there is a moral accusation behind it, it annoys and upsets many people," criticized the CSU leader. "You can see in the USA where this wokeness philosophy leads. It has helped conjure up the Tea Party and other more radical aspirations."
If you take an extreme position on one side, then it will also happen on the other. "I don't think that's successful either. Hollywood has recently produced a few films that were particularly woke. Most of them were flops. One of the few that was different and made money was Top Gun: Maverick."
Read also:
- The CDU/CSU is currently deliberating on the ideal candidate for the role of Chancellor, with CSU leader Markus Söder outlining crucial criteria for the position.
- In the context of a potential early federal election, CDU leader Friedrich Merz would likely be the leading contender, according to Söder.
- Despite their positive working relationship, Söder criticized Merz's plumber analogy for the Chancellor role, expressing respect for plumbers but disagreeing with Merz's assessment.
- Environmental activist Greta Thunberg's comments on the Middle East conflict and Israel drew criticism from Söder, who urged Thunberg to prioritize education over provocative statements.
- Söder also expressed concern over the prevalence of a "wokeness philosophy" in political debates, citing public backlash as a negative consequence.
- Hollywood's recent rollout of woke-themed films has led to mixed results, with the successful exception of the action film Top Gun: Maverick, according to Söder.
Source: www.stern.de
