Söder in the ARD summer interview: Final spurt of the election campaign from the sidelines

For CSU boss Söder, it is a balancing act to get involved in the Union’s election campaign without outshining the Chancellor candidate Laschet. in the ARD summer interview he attacked the SPD and the Greens – and indicated the content with which the Union wants to score.

Only that one thing is clear: he supports Armin Laschet one hundred percent, emphasizes Markus Söder. The CDU leader “can be Chancellor and he will also lead Germany well.” But he also expects that from others. “I would like everyone in the Union to campaign as actively as I and some others do for Armin Laschet.”

It is not that easy for him either, the CSU man flirts with the criticism, it is a shame instead of supporting: if he does not say anything, it means he does not praise enough. If he praises, people are quickly asked if he really means it. Subtext: It’s not up to me, I do what I can.

Scholz is no good as a fear opponent

In the face of the panic that is spreading in parts of the Union, Söder works in the ARD summer interview comparatively relaxed. Yes, in view of the opinion polls, the Union had to bake smaller rolls, but “everything is possible” until election day. He firmly assumes that Laschet will bring his content to the fore in the Triell of the Chancellor candidates. And Söder makes it clear how he imagines the further course of the election campaign.

Downright indignant, he states that the SPD candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz is portraying himself as the successor to Angela Merkel. As opponents, Scholz and his SPD have only actually been taken seriously by the Union for a few weeks. As a fear opponent, however, Scholz – the moderator Oliver Köhr described as “more conservative than some in the Union” – is really not suitable for very middle-class voters either. Söder therefore refers to the “team” that Scholz will bring to the Chancellery. Saskia Esken and Kevin Kühnert are anything but bourgeois. Then there is the green Anton Hofreiter.

Warning of a left alliance

A government with the Left Party would damage Germany: “Massive tax increases, instability due to a weakening of the Bundeswehr or the withdrawal from NATO,” Söder lists. The left advocates the idea of ​​a state that forces and educates people and which is a clear rejection of freedom. “And those are very clear differences.” For the middle class, for the handicrafts and for the families, who suddenly no longer have the splitting of spouses, the consequences are already very far-reaching. “And now they have to be brought into focus.”

Apart from the fact that, according to the election manifesto, the SPD and the Greens do not simply want to abolish the splitting of spouses for existing marriages, the thrust of Söders for the final spurt of the election campaign is clear: We, the Union, support and relieve the “normal citizens” and the “top performers” . With the parties on the left, there was a threat of tax increases and redistribution. With a chancellor, Scholz, there is even a threat that national debts and savings will be pooled in Europe.

Signal to medium-sized businesses

Söder is aware that when it comes to financial matters, Germans are sensitive. The experiences from the euro crisis in 2012, which almost brought the AfD to parliament in 2013, are still very much present to the former Bavarian finance minister. He wants to present the Union as the force with which the economic upswing after Corona will succeed.

Söder points to long-standing injustices that have to be addressed: For example, the fact that master schools are still subject to fees, while tuition fees have been abolished. Or the fact that corporations can avoid taxes while the tax authorities take a closer look at small craft businesses.

This should also be a signal to the corona-ravaged medium-sized businesses: Look here, we take care, you don’t have to vote for the FDP. Incidentally, Söder also portrays the liberals as insecure cantonists. Party leader Christian Lindner would like to become a minister, but he also accepts a traffic light.

Söder wants compensation for the CO2 price

Climate protection and pollution – Söder does not want to bring these two words together as much as possible. The CO2 price would have to be offset by an increased commuter allowance, for example. Bavaria has deficits in wind power, but is in a good position with solar energy and hydropower. As Environment Minister in Bavaria, Söder announced ten years ago that he would build 1,500 wind turbines by 2021. The fact that there were fewer than 1200 is explained by the fact that Bavaria’s topography is not suitable for wind. Many citizens are against the building.

He reacted to demands to abolish the 10H distance rule by referring to a planned reform. But basically he doesn’t want to touch the controversial rule, which prescribes a minimum distance of around two kilometers between wind turbines and houses.

Content for the core clientele

The issue of Afghanistan is a burden in the election campaign for the Federal Government and especially for the Union. Söder varies the term “humanity and order” coined by Horst Seehofer. Yes, local staff and particularly sensitive groups should also be accepted in Germany, but not promised in advance to accept hundreds of thousands. Above all, it is important to support the neighboring countries so that the majority of people can stay close to the country.

Security – the big core issue of the Union – also includes security against new financial burdens, against excessive unreasonable demands from climate protection and security against unemployment. In terms of content, Söder is focusing on the Union’s core clientele and the insecure middle class with this selection of topics.