The Bavarian state parliament is currently under construction, the plenary hall is buzzing. The craftsmen work behind plastic tarpaulins, the air smells of dust and wood when three men confer in front of the hall: Ludwig Hartmann, Florian von Brunn and Martin Hagen, the leaders of the Greens, SPD and FDP. It is early Tuesday afternoon, less than an hour ago that Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) declared himself. About his deputy Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) and the anti-Semitic leaflet that he had in his school bag as an eleventh grader, which he says was not written by him but by his brother. Aiwanger speaks of a “dirty campaign”, Söder sees open questions, 25 in number, which his deputy should now answer in writing. The coalition is now also a construction site. And the opposition is pushing. “It can’t go on like this!” says Green Party leader Hartmann.
The Greens, SPD and FDP agreed on Tuesday to convene a special session on the leaflet affair in the state parliament. They want to ask Hubert Aiwanger the open questions themselves. The Vice Prime Minister should declare himself publicly, in front of Parliament, not just in front of Söder and the CSU, and not just in writing. The Bavarian opposition would also like to set the deadline itself – and quote Aiwanger in the state parliament if he doesn’t come of his own accord. And the opposition parties want everything to happen faster. “Hubert Aiwanger now had ten days to clarify all open questions about the disgusting Nazi leaflet. He didn’t do that,” says SPD parliamentary group leader Brunn. “The stalemate now increases the damage to the Free State even more.”
FDP man Hagen also thinks: “The declaration by the prime minister is not enough,” Aiwanger must answer questions from the state parliament. “The mere appearance of anti-Semitism in the state government damages Bavaria’s reputation,” says Katharina Schulze of the Greens. Her co-group leader Hartmann says: “Söder ducks away. Instead of taking consequences, he prefers to continue governing with a deputy who leaves the greatest doubts about his democratic convictions.” The prime minister is “too weak to assert himself against Hubert Aiwanger,” Brunn continues. Markus Söder is playing “on time to save his coalition until election day”. For the SPD, the least that would have been was for Aiwanger to give up his post, at least for the time being.
Whether the Greens, SPD and FDP will request a special plenary session or a special committee is initially open on Tuesday. The processes would be similar in both cases. In the afternoon, the three parliamentary groups are already working on the necessary application; they, a third of the MPs, have the necessary mandates. According to the rules of procedure, this quorum is sufficient to round up the MPs. Otherwise, only Ilse Aigner (CSU), president of the state parliament, and the state government itself could invite parliamentarians to the unscheduled meeting. A room will be found, despite the renovation work in the plenary hall. But the state parliament is not just a construction site, it’s summer break, everyone is on vacation. Or in the election campaign. Actually, the state parliament should not meet again until late autumn, a new parliament, after the Bavarian elections on October 8th.
And it must have something to do with this state election that the opposition is now going on the offensive. It’s not just the credible outrage over Aiwanger’s leaflet affair and his handling of it that speaks from the reactions. But also the prospect, which was recently considered unlikely, that a place in the government could open up again alongside the CSU. Namely, if Markus Söder’s deputy’s explanations are still not enough and there would be a break not only with Hubert Aiwanger, but with his party. The Greens, SPD and FDP would probably all be ready for a junior partnership.
If you ask around in the Bavarian traffic light opposition, you will already encounter speculation that is now buzzing about who might have the best chances. The green? Certainly not. The CSU has categorically ruled out such an alliance, the anti-Green rhetoric is a central component of their election campaign. The FDP? Have to fight to even get back into the state parliament. If it is just enough, it would need a very strong CSU result for black and yellow to be possible. That leaves the SPD, which was number two in Bavaria for decades. Most recently, she came to nine percent of the survey – and could suddenly be in demand again.