You will probably not offend Markus Söder if you assume that he is a little inexperienced in this task. At least that was the impression he had made up for something big, something fundamental and also deeply human. He wanted to apologize to a former close friend whom he had humiliated in the maximum possible way. The opportunity arose on Thursday evening at the party conference of the Munich CSU, at which Ludwig Spaenle retired as district chief and the prime minister and party chief was supposed to give a speech as a guest of honor.
So Söder met Spaenle, two really close friends – in the past. They went on vacation together in Rome, “a ritual,” says Söder. Spaenle is also the godfather of his son. The close relationship came to an abrupt end in 2018 when the Prime Minister and party leader (Söder) unexpectedly threw his friend and super minister (Spaenle) out of the cabinet.
Career ended, friendship destroyed. Söder’s attempt to apologize at the meeting of the Munich CSU, wrapped in a Corona speech, sounded like this: “I want to make a small personal note,” he said warmly. “I don’t like to correct my own personnel decisions. Maybe some things weren’t ideal, sometimes I honestly feel a bit sorry – also from a friendly point of view. But I want to tell you today: How you mastered this difficult time, and how you have developed and what kind of power and passion you have for people who are being harassed again today, that is really unique. “
This was followed by thunderous applause. The Munich CSU members stood up. But they did not celebrate the prime minister, who perhaps thought he deserved applause for such a rare apology. They clapped for Spaenle, long and demonstratively. Then Söder said somewhat perplexed: “That was not planned now.”
And Ludwig Spaenle? He had never publicly settled accounts with Söder, and he did not do that at the party congress either. He responded in his own way. He stood at the microphone twice to greet Söder and thank him for his speech. Twice he managed to demonstratively not use the words “Markus Söder”. One can prophesy: the two of them will not go back to Rome together anytime soon. But probably: never again.