It was a huge crowd that the CSU would have gladly done without. The party’s members of the Bundestag met in the Seeon monastery for their winter retreat to calmly talk about the new year. But the peace and quiet wasn’t far off. Because more than 2,000 farmers were protesting outside. They came with their tractors to protest against the federal government’s agricultural policy – and thus also against the CSU. That was in January 2020, when the Christian Socialists in Berlin were still sitting at the cabinet table.
That was four years ago now. You should know this history in order to be able to gauge how relieved the CSU MPs are now. This January they also came to Seeon Monastery for their retreat. But this time the farmers are not demonstrating against them – but with them.
The farmers’ association has called for protest events across Germany against the federal government’s austerity plans. And on this day of all days, the president of the farmers’ association came to Seeon Monastery. “I’m pleased that I can be here at the CSU retreat today,” says Joachim Rukwied. He emphasizes the non-partisan nature of his association, but praises the CSU and the Bavarian state government. Even when asked, he doesn’t allow himself to be drawn into criticizing the Christian Socialists. Such things are discussed internally, says the president of the farmers’ association.
hand in hand
What a difference from 2020. Back then, Markus Söder, Alexander Dobrindt and other CSU politicians had to face the discontent of the farmers who marched. Söder tried to save himself by pointing out that it would be nice if the Federal Ministry of Agriculture was back in Bavarian hands. Which could certainly be understood as unfriendliness towards the CDU, because the minister at the time was the Christian Democrat Julia Klöckner.
Now the farmers’ association is hoping for support from the CSU. And how happy the Christian Socialists are about their new closeness can be seen in the press statement from the president of the farmers’ association with CSU regional group leader Dobrindt. Host Dobrindt appeared alone with all the other guests at the retreat. Among them were people of far greater prominence – for example, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. But when Dobrindt appeared with Rukwied, a dozen CSU representatives suddenly came out of the monastery to demonstratively stand behind the two. This is the image that should remain from this retreat: the CSU and farmers are working hand in hand again.
During the state elections, the CSU had to experience the hard way that more and more farmers were no longer voting for the CSU, but rather for the Free Voters. Hubert Aiwanger, head of the Free Voters and Bavarian Economics Minister, has long been trying to become something like the new German peasant leader. You could also see how annoyed the CSU is by this in the Seeon Monastery. Söder recommended that the journalists present interview Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) on agricultural issues instead of Economics Minister Aiwanger.
Concern about “polarization”
And Rukwied? He is flattered by the CSU. Dobrindt says he is pleased that the president is looking to “close ranks” with the CSU MPs on the very day on which the largest farmers’ protests in decades are being experienced. The protests are “completely justified.” Because the tax increases for farmers are “outrageous” and the traffic light has “gone wrong”.
But there is also a fundamental concern in the CSU. The traffic light coalition not only endangers “the viability of agriculture,” it has also “brought a polarization to this country that we have not experienced in decades,” says Dobrindt. The CSU accuses the traffic light of making decisions over the heads of those affected, and not just in the case of farmers. Such experiences of powerlessness could drive people into the arms of the AfD, says Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU). He is also a guest in the monastery on this day.
“The frustration among the population, which is now expressed in these farmers’ protests, needs to be clarified,” says Kretschmer. “Politics must not divide, politics must unite.” One can therefore only call on the federal government: “Sit down with those affected – and don’t talk about them, but talk to these people.”