One of the strange features of Germany’s political situation is the presence of the Christian Social Union (CSU). The CSU is an independent center-right party in Bavaria that sometimes complements, sometimes competes with, and sometimes operates in parallel with the main national conservative party, the Christians. Democratic Union (CDU).
The two parties, which have dominated post-war German politics together, have an agreement to merge but remain separate. In exchange for not competing in each other’s territories, the two parties agree to form a national party. Military forces at the federal level, even if they have separate organizational structures and leadership, run separate party conferences, and have separate programs.
That effectively means that the CSU is a regional party that exercises state power. The CSU only fields candidates in Bavaria, but also has members in the Bundestag, the Bundestag, as part of the CDU/CSU joint parliamentary group. And if the CDU/CSU wins the national election, the Bavarian party will be guaranteed seats in the cabinet – traditionally in the ministries of transport and agriculture, among others. Bavaria’s strong automotive industry and agricultural tradition are key to Bavaria’s identity.
Although the marriage was mutually beneficial, it wasn’t always easy. In 2015 and 2016, CSU Interior Minister Horst Seehofer clashed violently with Chancellor Angela Merkel over immigration policy, and the resulting crisis nearly brought down the government.
In the lead-up to 2021, the two parties are effectively in conflict over who will field the candidate for chancellor after Chancellor Angela Merkel retires. However, relations between party leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) and party leader Markus Söder (CSU) have improved significantly in recent times, and in fact they are both very ambitious and have no legitimate claim to leadership. It’s better than many expected because it’s believed to have. Prime Minister candidate in 2025.
historic alliance
CSU was founded in October 1945, shortly after the end of World War II. At the time, Germany was essentially restarting its political system from scratch, and new conservative parties and associations were coming together across the country. However, while other local conservative parties joined in his 1950 to form the CDU, the CSU chose to remain independent.
This is partly due to the traditional presence of at least one Bavarian regional interest party in German national politics. The CSU fits into this mold, still cherishing Bavarian patriotism today, and after dispatching several rival Bavarian parties in the 1950s, established itself as a dominant force in southeastern Germany.
For most of its history, especially from the late 1960s to the 1990s, the CSU consistently won more than 50% of the vote in both federal and state elections in Bavaria, making it Germany’s only state with a single-party government. became. In many cases, the CSU leader also serves as the state premier of Bavaria.
But in recent years, the party’s vote has been splintering, with other right-wing rivals, including the populist centre-right Free Voters and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), gradually losing some of the electorate. They’re moving away.
Difference between CSU and CDU
The CSU is traditionally considered to be more socially conservative than the CDU, particularly with regard to religion and law enforcement. CSU still takes Bavarian Catholic traditions seriously. In 2018, Markus Söder ordered all public buildings to “prominently display a cross as an expression of Bavaria’s history and law enforcement” cultural character. ” Bavarian state police are also very strict about security, and their crackdown on climate change protesters is noticeably tougher than in other states.
At the same time, however, the CSU is often to the left of the CDU on social welfare issues, despite its aim to preserve what it sees as traditional family structures. In the past, they have called on states to increase support for stay-at-home mothers.
However, the party’s attitude towards non-Germans is less lenient. The CSU took a tougher stance against rejected asylum seekers during the Merkel era.
CSU nationalism also led the country to one of its embarrassing debacles in 2019. The European Court of Justice has ruled that the CSU’s plans to introduce tolls on foreign cars on motorways violate European Union rules. The federal government now faces a loss of 243 million euros ($267 million) on the contract signed by CSU Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer. The legal battle continues.
Leading CSU’s national goals
Only twice has the CDU/CSU fielded a CSU candidate for prime minister in national elections. Franz-Josef Strauss, who was something of a godfather within the party, ran for office in 1980, and in 2002, after a tussle with then-CDU leader Angela Merkel, his hat was replaced by Edmund Stoiber. threw it into the ring.
Neither was successful. Strauss is a deeply conservative party who unsuccessfully tried to oust incumbent Helmut Schmidt from the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). Mr. Steuber failed to appeal to voters in northern Germany and lost by a narrow margin to Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
Schröder famously tried to claim victory in the 2005 election by arguing that CDU and CSU votes should be counted separately. If that happens, Schröder’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) will secure the most votes and the power to form a new government.
Few people supported that logic. The majority of Germans mostly view the CDU/CSU as a single political group, although they have occasional squabbles.
This is an updated version of a previous article. Jefferson Chase contributed to this article.
Editor: Lina Goldenberg
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