Markus Söder, the CSU chair, has given unequivocal backing to a new chancellorship bid by Friedrich Merz of the CDU. Speaking to the newspaper Stern, he said Merz will stay with us for a long time-both as a person and as chancellor-and that he fully supports a potential re‑run.
Söder highlighted the strong relationship he has with the chancellor, noting that the core team of the CDU, CSU and SPD is functioning well and that his own rapport with Merz is very good. When asked whether he trusts Merz with the upcoming reform programme, he replied: “Absolutely – Merz can do it”.
At the same time, he cautioned his Union colleagues not to let the reform agenda appear skewed toward only the upper echelons. “The Union must never give the impression that it exists solely for the upper tens of thousands” he said, emphasizing that the party has both economic and social responsibilities, which go hand in hand.
Merz himself had recently reignited discussions about a possible re‑election. In February, in Trier, the 70‑year‑old said he still plans to pursue this for a longer period, noting that his father turned 102 in January. CDU Secretary General Linnemann had earlier remarked that Merz has “good genes” suggesting he could stay active in politics for many more years.
