Söder calls on CDU dissidents to leave

With a view to the voting behavior in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, CSU leader Markus Söder has asked suspected dissidents in the ranks of the Union to leave. “Do you want to go somewhere else? Then say so,” said Söder on the ARD program Caren Miosga. "Anyone who votes for the AfD doesn't have that kind of future with us."

Since the election of the AfD's first state parliament president in Magdeburg at the beginning of October, it has been unclear who voted for the AfD candidate Tobias Rausch other than his own representatives and those of the BSW. He received four more votes in a secret ballot. Söder said that this probably happened out of a deep wound on the part of the CDU faction.

Söder demands public confession

After these events, Söder said he would find it “surprising” if the AfD did not now lead the government in the country. He believes "it would also be absolutely necessary. The voters in Saxony-Anhalt have already spoken a very clear word about this."

In Saxony-Anhalt, the CDU lost almost 20 percentage points in the state elections at the beginning of September. The AfD politician Ulrich Siegmund is standing for election to the office of Prime Minister in December. The state association is classified as definitely right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony-Anhalt.

When asked whether he believed that no CDU MP would vote for Siegmund, Söder said: "Based on the result, you can't say that. I just think that all those who are thinking about doing something like that should please have the backbone to make it public." They should then “move straight away in the political direction,” said Söder. "Because I think that's pretty shabby."

"Friedrich Merz remains Chancellor"

Söder warned of instability in the federal government with possible new elections if Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) was questioned from within his own ranks. "That's why everyone who ignites (...) must know that in the end it will probably lead to extreme AfD dominance and that the surveys will then produce results."

When asked whether he was ready to succeed Merz in the Chancellery, Söder said: "Friedrich Merz remains Chancellor." The only personality that interests him personally is not the chancellorship, "but I would like, if at all possible, Ilse Aigner to become Federal President. I am very committed to that," added Söder.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be leaving office in March next year. The Federal Assembly, which includes members of the Bundestag and representatives of the state parliaments, will decide on the successor on January 30, 2027. The Bavarian state parliament president Aigner has so far kept a low profile about her candidacy.