Martin Huber has been the new CSU general secretary since May, appointed by party leader Markus Söder. Just two days later, there was a suspicion that Huber might have cheated on his doctoral thesis. While the case is being examined, Huber is now organizing a CSU party conference for the first time. The delegate meeting will take place on Friday and Saturday in Augsburg.
SZ: “The CSU is greener than you often think.” How do you like this sentence?
Martin Huber: In the right context, I think this sentence is spot on. It means that the CSU has always had a high awareness of sustainability.
Do you know who the phrase came from?
Naturally.
From you, November 2018. That was when Söder’s green phase began.
Bavaria was the first state to have an environment ministry in 1970, so environmental protection has long been a priority for us. But without ideology, that’s what we stand for.
Last year, black-green was still an “exciting team for the future” for your party leader. Now the CSU is ruling out a coalition with the Greens in Bavaria.
The differences are too big, you can see it at the traffic lights. The CSU takes care of the people and protects what makes Bavaria special. The Greens are against what Bavaria has built. They have a different image of society and are driven by ideology. It is absurd not to agree to the lifetime extension of nuclear power and to use floating oil power plants instead. The traffic light is in a desolate condition, which can be seen from the fact that Chancellor Scholz has to give a so-called word of authority. This is more a sign of weakness than strength. In Bavaria we are the counter-proposal to this.
Is the old, conservative CSU back?
These are classifications that the media likes to make. We are a modern, middle-class conservative party that combines issues such as the economy and climate protection.
Well, in the CSU there is now much less talk about the climate. Söder also buried the women’s quota, and he wanted to make the CSU more female. Now he’s promoting that the “horny” Layla can be sung about in the beer tent.
Now you’re mixing things up a lot. We are very serious about combining climate protection and value creation. Germany’s largest electrolysis plant is in Wunsiedel, which is a clear signal. Or the hydrogen center in Pfeffenhausen. On the other topic: We don’t want any language police. And everyone should be allowed to eat what they want. The state must not become encroaching, and that too is one of the many differences between the CSU and the Greens.
The CSU party conference is on Saturday. your message?
We are the constructive force in Bavaria and Germany, steering the country through the crisis on a clear course. It’s not the traffic light with its constant hassle.
You are general secretary of a governing party in Bavaria. But you sound like the opposition in Berlin.
The CSU can confidently point out what we have achieved together with the people: that Bavaria is top in all areas. The federal government, on the other hand, stands for a chaos. A traffic light in which all three lights are constantly on is not functional.
That’s what we meant by the traffic light bashing of the CSU. Plus jokes about gender and vegans. Is that enough in the state election campaign?
Back in June, we submitted concrete proposals on how we can get through the crisis. The CSU state group proposed a gas price brake in July. And now we have the grotesque situation that this brake should not take effect until March, when winter is almost over. If our proposals had been taken up earlier, we would be in a very different situation today.
Which own topics does the CSU want to set in the election campaign?
We’ve always set topics in Bavaria, just the high-tech agenda as Markus Söder’s vision. We make the Free State fit for the future. And we will emphasize our core issues, for example that Bavaria is the safest federal state. It’s about people’s basic trust in politics. We stand for secure jobs, social security, energy security, internal security. We take care of Bavaria and the people.
No need for improvement at all?
We are in a situation where we need to maintain the status quo. We are of the opinion that everything we represent must first be generated. The traffic light is there with the watering can on the way. Example citizen income, which takes the principle “performance must be worthwhile” ad absurdum. We take care of the middle of society, the high performers who get up every day and keep the country running.
That’s what Hubert Aiwanger always says. Are the Free Voters 2023 the biggest competitor?
The coalition in Bavaria is the successful alternative to traffic light chaos. I firmly believe that people are happy to have this state government.
But where are the differences? Sounds almost as if the FW were a block party of the CSU.
Of course there are differences, they are two different parties.
In fact?
The CSU also represents Bavarian interests at other levels. A unique selling proposition.
And in terms of content, no differences?
(thinks for a long time) The CSU is the only party that connects themes: town and country, climate protection and value creation, freedom and security. In addition, we also take care of the big problems in Bavaria and not to collect cow dung with as much media attention as possible (laughs).
The traffic light is weakening, but the CSU is still not moving in the polls?
That’s not true, we’re stable at around 40 percent. The surveys also show that people in Bavaria and far beyond are very satisfied with the work of Prime Minister Markus Söder.
It was just 37 in the BR Bayern trend.
And recently 39 percent again. I can already see that we are stable at around 40 percent. However, we are in a situation in which many people are unsettled, with worries about everyday life, about the cost of food, about energy. This concern is reflected in all parties.
You have been in office for almost six months. your personal record?
Evaluating your own work is difficult. I leave that to others. I really like being CSU General Secretary. The great team in the state management, organizing the content orientation, that’s great fun.
There have been general secretaries who have been more visible.
Whom?
Shall we list the names now?
Compared to the general secretaries of the other federal and state parties, I certainly don’t need to hide.
Are you perhaps inhibited by the unclear situation about your doctoral thesis, which is currently being checked for allegations of plagiarism?
As CSU general secretary, you never live in your comfort zone.
If your doctorate were revoked, would you resign?
The university is checking, I’ll wait.
It’s the first party congress that you’re organizing as a general. Are you afraid of doing something wrong?
Of course there is some tension. But I’m really looking forward to it. It’s the first major party congress without corona restrictions.
Markus Blume, your predecessor, annoyed the party leader in 2019: because of long queues at too few snack bars. And then there was, very un-Bavarian, currywurst instead of meat loaf.
The supply is secured.
What’s up this time?
Snack, meat loaf, several buffet stations. We are the party of Liberalitas Bavariae. There is something for everyone.
Then there is certainly a vegan alternative at the CSU.
Yes. Soup and vegetarian cheese spaetzle.
Hm. Let’s pass it as vegan. Speaking of which, Markus Söder loves analogies with food. He came up with “Leberkäs und Laser” as a successor to the Bavarian slogan “Laptop und Lederhose”.
The combination of tradition and innovation, of homeland and openness, that is what characterizes Bavaria. Laptop and lederhosen, meat loaf and laser, hydrogen and white sausage, whatever you want. Even if the Weißwurst isn’t very vegan now.
There are vegan white sausages.
For those who like it.