Former Transport Minister: Ramsauer no longer wants to run for the Bundestag

The former Federal Transport Minister and chairman of the CSU regional group in the Bundestag, Peter Ramsauer, does not want to run for the Bundestag again. “No, I will not run again. This is a decision of the family council, consisting of my wife, our four daughters and finally me,” said Ramsauer, who is celebrating his 70th birthday on Saturday, to the “Mediengruppe Bayern” (“Mediengruppe Bayern” (“Mediengruppe Bayern”) Passauer Neue Presse”, “Donaukurier”, “Mittelbayerische Zeitung”).

He has been in the Bundestag for 33 years, and at the end of the legislative period it will be 35 years. “I’m in good health and can run up mountains – why should I deny myself that by running for the Bundestag a tenth time? No, I’ll let it go now – and make way for a successor.”

In next year’s federal election, Ramsauer expects CDU leader Friedrich Merz to run as the joint candidate for chancellor of the Union parties CDU and CSU. “Every Bavarian Prime Minister and CSU chairman is undoubtedly suitable for this office. But as Markus Söder himself repeatedly emphasizes: the opposition leader in the Bundestag, Friedrich Merz, has the very first access,” said Ramsauer. “And that makes sense in two respects: on the one hand he is the CDU party chairman and on the other hand he is the Union parliamentary group leader.”

In addition, Merz would have to consider what consequences it would have if he didn’t take action – because then the rivalries would immediately break out again: “both within the CDU, because several people clearly feel called upon there, and in contrast to the CSU, because the CDU sees itself as “The party doesn’t want to let the candidate for chancellor be taken away.”