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Viewing cable 09MUNICH254, BLACK AND BLUE, BAVARIA'S CSU SEEKS NEW RELEVANCE

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09MUNICH254 2009-10-05 07:20 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Munich
VZCZCXRO1437
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHMZ #0254/01 2780720
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050720Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL MUNICH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4931
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUNICH 000254 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ECON GM
SUBJECT:  BLACK AND BLUE, BAVARIA'S CSU SEEKS NEW RELEVANCE 
 
MUNICH 00000254  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
Summary 
1.  (SBU) The September 27 Bundestag election showed that the 
Christian Social Union (CSU)of Bavaria has lost its nimbus as a 
regional superpower in Germany.  The CSU will remain a U.S. ally in 
foreign and security policy fields.  Its focus, however, will mainly 
be on economic and social issues, and it could serve as a foil in a 
business-friendly "black-yellow" federal coalition.  Karl-Theodor zu 
Guttenberg, a wildly popular politician not yet forty, is the most 
powerful CSU figure in Berlin.  Eclipsing Bavarian Minister 
President Seehofer, he will lead the fight to protect CSU influence 
in the new government.  End Summary. 
A New CSU Strategy: Modern or Traditional? 
2.  (SBU) Winning just 42.6 percent of the vote in the Bundestag 
elections, the CSU today is at its lowest ebb, even below its 
"disastrous" 43.4 percent in the 2008 state election and far from 
its 2005 Bundestag election result (49.3 percent).  According to a 
poll on election eve September 26, seventy-five percent of Bavarians 
"did not believe the CSU was credible," the worst result of all 
political parties and one that shocked the CSU party powerful. 
Despite Seehofer's highly publicized efforts over the past year to 
attract more youth and women, the party has only six women out of 45 
deputies in the Bundestag, down by three from 2005 -- one possible 
reason for its loss in credibility.  Rival CSU camps have proposed 
solutions.  One CSU board member and European Parliamentarian has 
argued for a return to traditional, Christian-conservative roots 
such as with women raising children at home.  Others want to 
continue Seehofer's rejuvenation reforms.  The "Young Group" of the 
CSU Landtag caucus in Munich wants to turn the CSU into a 
progressive party.  "Being conservative," Landtag deputy Markus 
Blume says, "means marching on top of progress." 
3.  (SBU) The CSU may also try to promote its social market views to 
gain strength.  In a coalition with the CDU and FDP, the CSU will be 
able to profile itself as the defender of a strong state versus 
"liberal" permissiveness and of the interests of the "little people" 
versus "cold market liberalism."  Seehofer knows how to play the 
"social conscience" card, although doing so against the FDP in the 
election backfired. 
The CSU Generational Change is Underway 
4.  (SBU) Since taking office, Seehofer (aged 60) has planted the 
seeds to rejuvenate the party, placing up-and-coming politicians in 
the Bavarian cabinet  and even paving the way for his own 
succession.  He is dramatically weakened, however, after leading the 
party to its worst showing in history, party insiders and 
commentators agree.  The most popular CDU/CSU politician by far, 
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, at age 37, sits in Berlin as Economic 
Minster, not in Munich.  CSU insiders expect him to focus his time 
and talents on Berlin jobs and increasing his Berlin influence.  He 
is not expected to try to become Minister President, a CSU senior 
advisor told us on September 30.  The advisor said that Seehofer 
would lead the coalition negotiations in Berlin but implied with a 
smile that zu Guttenberg "would be prominent at the table." 
CSU, a U.S. Ally with Weak Foreign Policy Credentials 
5.  (SBU) Even though it represented a state and not a country, for 
decades the CSU focused on foreign affairs when the Soviet Union was 
at the border.  Franz Josef Strauss was the legendary CSU leader in 
Germany and Europe from the 1960's to 1980's, but for leadership 
today, the CSU has few foreign policy experts and its foreign policy 
credentials are thin.  Zu Guttenberg and Christian Schmidt, State 
Secretary in the Ministry of Defense, stand out both in Germany and 
Washington.  However, in the new government zu Guttenberg will not 
become Foreign Minister and Schmidt may keep his position but not 
move up, CSU contacts tell us.  The CSU hopes for a third portfolio 
and CSU caucus chairman Peter Ramsauer might become Minister for 
Economic Cooperation, which would give the CSU some say in foreign 
policy matters. 
6.  (SBU) On foreign policy issues, despite its lack of depth the 
CSU should remain a U.S. ally.  A CSU contact told us on September 
30 that the CSU will hold the course in Afghanistan, defend against 
Free Democratic Party (FDP) moves to abolish compulsory military 
service, and argue for better military equipment and a larger budget 
for the Defense Ministry.  That said, CSU failed to support the U.S. 
when it came to Bavaria's accepting Guantanamo detainees; this may 
not change. 
Refocusing on Local Issues 
7.  (SBU) Political, economic, and demographic evolution in the 
Bavaria have over the years displaced foreign affairs as a major 
organizing principal for the state's main political party, replacing 
that with overt economic and social concerns.  State chancery 
contacts have confirmed to us since the election that, given 
Seehofer's own social background, his emphasis is not on foreign 
policy.  Rather, he will shift the CSU's focus to take on the role 
of the "social conscience" of the black-yellow government coalition. 
  In Bavaria, the CSU contends with five viable political rivals - 
FDP, SPD, Freie Waehler, Greens, and the Left - and Bavarians seem 
happy to see the erstwhile "boss" forced to rule in a coalition with 
the FDP. Given the fact that the CSU is mostly responsible for the 
 
MUNICH 00000254  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
CDU/CSU losses nationwide, it has to try to get along with the 
coalition partners while seeking its new footing in Munich and 
Berlin. 
8.  (U) Consulate General Munich coordinated this report with 
Embassy Berlin. 
9.  (U) Track Munich reporting at 
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Germ any. 
TRIBBLE