Markus Söder
Minister-President of Bavaria and leader of the CSU · CSU (Christian Social Union in Bavaria)
Where they stand
The latest thing they said on each issue, dated. Tap an issue for their words and the source.
Economy and energy
Debt brake Exempt defence and investment
Said
He backed the 2025 amendment to the Basic Law that took defence spending above 1% of GDP out of the debt brake and set up a 500-billion-euro investment fund.
“Entscheidend ist, dass wir heute mit dieser Grundgesetzänderung im Prinzip die Möglichkeit geben, einen Schutzschirm aufzuspannen.”
Our translation What is decisive is that today, with this amendment to the Basic Law, we in principle create the possibility of opening a protective shield.
Nuclear power Bring nuclear power back
Said
Germany should look at building new small nuclear reactors, as Canada and Switzerland are doing.
“Und natürlich sollten wir auch neue smarte Kernreaktoren prüfen, wie sie in Kanada und in der Schweiz auf den Weg gebracht werden.”
Our translation And of course we should also examine new smart nuclear reactors, such as are being launched in Canada and in Switzerland.
Combustion engines Scrap or soften the 2035 ban
Said
He supports electric cars but opposes a ban on new combustion-engine cars and wants both to remain possible.
“Wir sind für E-Autos, kein Zweifel. Aber eben nicht für ein Verbot des Hightech-Verbrenners. Beides muss möglich sein. Wir brauchen kein Verbot, sondern Technologieoffenheit.”
Our translation We are for e-cars, no doubt. But not for a ban on the high-tech combustion engine. Both must be possible. We need no ban, but openness to technology.
Society
Asylum Turn back more at the border
Said
Immigration must be limited, so people should be turned back at the borders and offenders deported.
“Daher sind Zurückweisungen an den Grenzen und die konsequente Abschiebung gerade von Straftätern nötig.”
Our translation Therefore turning people back at the borders and the consistent deportation, especially of criminals, are necessary.
Source New Year's address 2025 of the Bavarian Minister-President (bayern.de press release)
Citizen's income Tighten or replace it
Said
He welcomes the federal coalition's decision to abolish the Bürgergeld.
“Das Bürgergeld wird zum Glück abgeschafft.”
Our translation The Bürgergeld is, fortunately, being abolished.
Military service Compulsory service
Said
National and NATO defence cannot be organised without some form of compulsory military service.
“Und am Ende wird es auch ohne eine Wehrpflicht, in welcher Form auch immer, nicht gehen, damit die Landes- und NATO-Verteidigung organisiert werden kann.”
Our translation And in the end it will not work without conscription, in whatever form, so that national and NATO defence can be organised.
Germany in the world
Ukraine Keep arming Ukraine
Said
Stopping arms deliveries to Ukraine would not make Putin withdraw; the opposite would happen.
“Wer im Saal wirklich ernsthaft glaubt, wenn man aufhören würde, Waffen zu liefern, wenn man sich zurückziehen würde und sagen würde, wir haben nichts damit zu tun, dass dann jemand wie Putin mit seiner Persönlichkeit sagen würde, "Danke, das war nur ein Spaß. Ich ziehe mich zurück". Dem sage ich: Das Gegenteil wird der Fall sein.”
Our translation Whoever in this chamber really seriously believes that if one stopped delivering weapons, if one withdrew and said we have nothing to do with it, someone like Putin, with his personality, would then say "Thanks, that was only a joke. I am withdrawing" - to them I say: the opposite will be the case.
- Arms for IsraelNothing on record yet
Who they would work with
Working with the AfD No cooperation with the AfD
Said
The CSU will not cooperate with the AfD, because cooperation would betray its core values.
“Eine Kooperation ist das Falsche. Eine Kooperation zerreißt uns. Eine Kooperation wäre der Verrat an unseren Grundwerten, und deswegen werden wir nicht mit der AfD kooperieren, sondern wir werden sie stellen und bekämpfen”
Our translation Cooperation is the wrong thing. Cooperation tears us apart. Cooperation would be the betrayal of our core values, and therefore we will not cooperate with the AfD, but we will confront and fight it
Source CSU: "80 Jahre CSU - Söder: Die CSU ist eine einzigartige Partei" (csu.de, 25 October 2025)
No change of mind on record yet: every position above is the latest they have stated, with its date.
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.