Despite recent disagreements surrounding the failed selection process for a judge at the Federal Constitutional Court, CSU leader Markus Söder has lauded his working relationship with SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil within the governing coalition.
Speaking to Bild, Söder highlighted a positive dynamic, noting their ability to connect on shared interests like football and praising Klingbeil’s reliability. He defended Klingbeil’s performance, stating it was “unfair” to criticize him regarding the postponed reduction of the electricity tax, emphasizing it was a joint agreement. “Ultimately, he’s doing good work” Söder added.
Looking ahead, Söder anticipates a new candidate will be put forward by the SPD for the Federal Constitutional Court by the autumn. He expressed confidence that a consensus would be reached, allowing the SPD to present a candidate that reflects their values.
Söder firmly ruled out any potential collaboration with the Left party (Die Linke). While acknowledging evolving political landscapes in certain regions, he maintained that such a partnership is not feasible at the federal level and would be a misdirection in the long run.
Evaluating the first ten weeks of the government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Söder characterized the period as a success. He pointed to the rapid implementation of key policy changes, including a significant shift in foreign and defense policy, increased investment in the armed forces and a change in approach to migration championed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, highlighting a fundamentally altered direction for Germany.
