CSU leader Markus Söder criticizes the Greens fundamentally – and justifies his sometimes harsh choice of words against the party.
Markus Söder definitely doesn’t want to form a coalition with the Greens – the CSU boss left no doubt about that on Sunday evening with “Caren Miosga”. However, he rejected the fact that his sometimes very polemical frontal attacks on the Greens could reinforce the worrying trends of increasingly threatening protests against the party.
The guests
Markus Söder (CSU party leader and Prime Minister of Bavaria)Mariam Lau (“Die Zeit” journalist)Julia Reuschenbach (political scientist)
Before that, however, the German Air Force’s wiretapping scandal was discussed by Russia – and here too, Söder did not skimp on criticism of the government, but primarily of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “If it’s really true that they simply dialed into a Webex switch without anyone noticing, maybe the Russians’ technical capabilities aren’t that great, but we’re just a little unlucky,” said Söder.
The dispute between France and Germany is likely to cause laughter in the Kremlin, he said. He does not believe that Scholz lied about the delivery and use of Taurus rockets. He didn’t know Scholz as a liar, but his strategy was incomprehensible. The war in Ukraine is now purely a material battle – it is outrageous that Germany would withdraw in such a situation, criticized Söder.
Söder: “A lot of friendship porcelain is being smashed”
His suggestion: The West should formulate a strategic goal of what a peace solution could look like. It is important that Germany, Great Britain and France stand close together. In fact, relations with these countries could currently be “a case of ‘marriage in court’,” he joked, noting: “A lot of friendship porcelain is being broken.”
Before the fundamental criticism of the Greens began – and the discussion panel was expanded to include journalist Mariam Lau and political scientist Julia Reuschenbach, Söder had a humorous anecdote about former Chancellor Angela Merkel ready. He was in active contact with them during the Corona period. He often wrote her frustrated text messages in the evenings, which she – according to Söder – answered with “Confucius SMS” or sometimes with a Udo Jürgens quote.
Söder: Stoner fans to Berlin!
When the conversation turned to the release of cannabis, Söder began his criticism of the Greens, which was to stick until the end of the program. Söder, who is against the decision to (partially) legalize cannabis, judged harshly: “The government argues about everything and gets nothing done. But when they smoke weed, they all get high with joy.”
He described the law itself as “such a poorly made law.” Although it cannot be legally avoided, it will be applied restrictively in Bavaria. Then he became polemical: “If you’re a total stoner fan: go to Berlin! Not to Bavaria,” was his recommendation.
Söder is generally “very disappointed” with the Greens. At the beginning of the traffic light coalition, he still found their work to be positive. “I found Baerbock’s appearance abroad refreshing, new and modern. I also found Habeck’s ideas on energy positive.” But then an “ideological backslide” began, which was evident in the phase-out of nuclear energy and the heating law. A new government should therefore definitely take place without the Greens, said Söder.
Söder initially put the fact that the Greens in Hirschaid, Bavaria, had to leave an event under police protection a few weeks ago due to threatening protests somewhat into perspective: “I generally think disrupting events is wrong,” he said and noted: “I think the Greens should think about one thing “What a contribution they make that, regardless of the rioters, such a large part of the population rejects them.”
