The fact that Mr. Huber is now replacing Mr. Mayer in the CSU sounds funny, of course. Above all, the election of the new Secretary General shows the seriousness of the situation in which CSU boss Markus Söder has maneuvered himself. The personnel illustrates how much his authority in the party is now crumbling, especially in the state parliamentary group, the foundation of his power.
The fact that Söder first served himself in Berlin in February and presented Stephan Mayer, a member of the Bundestag, as the new general was a serious offense to the parliamentary group, which has long complained about the contempt for its party leader. An overpressure gradually developed in the fraction boiler, which was about to be discharged.
Quasi representative for the parliamentary group, ex-party leader Erwin Huber formulated a very clear expectation of Söder on Thursday: absolute concentration on Bavaria. At that point at the latest, Söder was almost forced to choose a member of the state parliament this time in order to prevent the big bang and not to completely smash the porcelain. Perhaps for the first time in his tenure, Markus Söder, previously CSU autocrat, was not free to make his decision. One is almost inclined to speak of a caesura.
After all, Söder has kept his promise to quickly regulate the Mayer successor. In addition, Martin Huber made a good impression on his first appearance. The CSU can have legitimate hopes that the second choice is the better one.