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
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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.
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