CSU, the Bavarian sister-party of Germany’s CDU, has
always been more right-wing than its bigger sister. 39% of Bavarian voters,
voted CSU in 2017, down from 49% in 2013, having hovered in the mid 50%, peaking
at 60% in the 1960s-70s-80s. The practice of pushing hatred of the other to
acquire votes is not new and it almost invariably works. CSU’s senior politician Horst Seehofer, for whom a powerful
Homeland ministry is being established in Angela Merkel’s new coalition government,
is good at just this.
Seehofer’s very public and loud statement that Islam “does
not belong to Germany”, has won condemnation from many directions, including
that of his senior partner, Angela Merkel.
A few days ago, Michel Friedman, a German Jewish lawyer
and publicist, opined that in making a judgement whether a religion belongs or
does not belong to the country, Seehofer has infringed on the boundaries of his
office.
