CSU party conference in Nuremberg: Friedrich Merz is received like a star

And suddenly Friedrich Merz dares a joke in Nuremberg. All the ministers, the candidate for Chancellor from the stage emphasized, would have to go back to Brussels under his chancellery. “And physically and mentally.” This is now a little unrest in the first rows of seats-where the CSU-Granden sit-jokes Merz. “But believe me: This also applies to the CSU minister.” Lachen in the hall.

You have to be able to afford jokes. Anyone who dares them at the expense of others must trust that it will not be interpreted badly. In the past, the CDU party chairman at CSU party days could not always test the good togetherness in faith. Just think of Angela Merkel’s humiliation by Horst Seehofer in 2018. Yes, at that time the sister parties were also foreign as rarely. Gone time. Bavaria seems good. Well, almost.

Since the ranks of the delegates have been marching at around 12 noon. The two protrude almost everyone else. The eye level apparently helps. Joking, standing ovation, shaking hands. Merz is welcomed at the small party congress of the CSU like one of theirs – and like a chancellor.

The two general secretaries of the CDU and CSU, Carsten Linnemann and Martin Huber, are the “Hanni and Nanni” of the Union for him, Markus Söder recently stood out. Anyone who saw them through the rows on this day, so inseparable, heard their speeches, could just as well imagine this for Söder and Merz.

Together the two party leaders enter the stage. “The CDU party leader have rarely been received so well,” Söder explains to the happily grinning man next to him. He was even in the Sauerland. Laughter. Merz then stops his speech from the edge of the stage, does not stay behind the desk, speaks free, aims at the Bavarian delegates. The candidate for Chancellor looks almost as freed that day. In any case, the CDU, the CDU, at the Berlin party congress of his own party last Monday.

On the one hand, the good atmosphere in the Nuremberg Hall should contribute to this. On the other hand, also the gratifying approval values, especially for the candidate. In several surveys, for example in ARD and ZDF, Merz has recently increased significantly, in its popularity four to five points, but also in the assessment of the Germans whether he would be a good Chancellor. His opponent Olaf Scholz, on the other hand, continues to slip.

“It has been clear since last week at the latest where the differences are,” Merz calls into the Frankenhalle. “Yes, we make a contribution to the election success. But above all a contribution to the democratic discussion in Germany.” A “keep it up,” says Merz, he excludes for economic and migration policy. Merz also speaks to the protests against the asylum vote with the AfD and calls: “Let’s not be put off.”

In addition to the great chairman Söder and Merz, one on days like this always seems to appear in supporting roles: Alexander Dobrindt. The CSU national group leader also calls in his speech in the morning: “We stop, dear friends!” For the unity of the two sister parties, however, he plays a more important role than ever.

Dare a little politics in the style of Donald Trump to get the AfD small. At least put something opposite. This is what the CSU strategist’s invoice is said about. In terms of content, the management of the CDU and CSU are as close as they have not been in decades. Söder recently referred to the coordination with the AfD in the Bundestag as the “steep move” and “roller coaster ride”. As a departure from the content of the applications, this should not be misunderstood.

Nobody wants to see the AfD, also the emphasis of Söder and Merz in harmony. Merz calls: “There will be no kind of form of collaboration.” Then he goes one step further than last: “We would reveal our country. I would reveal the soul of the CDU if I were enough for them even the little finger.” From the point of view of the SPD and the Greens, he had long been enough.

And Söder? On Monday at the CDU party conference, Söder had joked about the Chancellor’s candidate on an open stage: “Friedrich, you don’t look like a big Sauerland, more like a Berlin broccoli casserole.” I’m sorry, what? What should this untest? This handmade speech three weeks before the election? This was difficult for many delegates from the CDU.

There was a prelude to the “broccoli casserole”: The CDU had been waiting for the Bavarian Prime Minister on Monday at its party congress in a room for about an hour. Internally, the head was shaken over the organizational deficiencies with the big sister. One or the other dirty in his speech is said to have only made it into the head of the CSU boss during this waiting period. Waiting makes you creative. Söder extended his 20-minute speaking time to twice.

Some were correspondingly nervous in the CDU headquarters before the Chancellor’s candidate in Bavaria. Now a false Söder-Gag and the whole drive of the past few days would be threatened. But nothing there. No meanness. No jokes on Merz ‘cost. Does the mood politician feel that the pendulum swings for Merz? Söder took back.

It looked like a kind of uniform celebration, to which it was invited here in Nuremberg. Including flags, vocals, friendly welcome gifts. CDU and CSU, Merz and Söder, Hanni and Nanni. Reunited after a bad sister dispute.

Söder cannot save only one dirty. He would not be Markus Söder: “We will protect you against everyone-also in your own party-“, the CSU party leader speaks to say goodbye to the stage.

You need me, Friedrich. This is Söder’s final message. The shine and gloria of the blue and white world seems enough. For now.