A German Christian Social Union (CSU) leader, Markus Söder, has expressed positive views on the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as a potential coalition partner ahead of government formation talks. Söder, the CSU chair, praised the SPD, stating that it has always been a stabilizing and reliable force in German politics, particularly during the Weimar Republic era. He also commended the SPD’s party and faction chief, Lars Klingbeil, saying Klingbeil’s election as faction chief could be an early indication of the SPD’s future foreign policy direction, with Klingbeil being close to Boris Pistorius on the topic of the German military.
Söder called for a fundamental reorientation of government work in the face of numerous challenges, emphasizing that the focus should be on a genuine shift in direction and a new style, rather than just appointments and cosmetic changes, as seen in previous government formations. He stated that a common understanding is necessary for the CSU and SPD to form a responsibility community.
The CSU leader defended the party’s inquiry into the funding of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the German parliament, making it clear that the direction of the inquiry is aimed at the Greens. Söder claimed that NGOs, such as Greenpeace and Attac, have spread like “squid” in ministries held by the Greens and that the work should be returned to the hands of democratically elected representatives and professional top civil servants.
Söder’s statement that the CSU plans to make the farmer’s representative, Günther Felßner, the federal agriculture minister, was not a contradiction, as Felßner is a trained farmer and not a lobbyist and has carried responsibility in local politics for many years. Söder compared this to the situation of the Greens’ economy minister, Robert Habeck, who, in his opinion, lacked understanding of the economy.