Edmund Stoiber - spin cycle nears its end

At the moment, the CSU, Bavaria's ruling party, is holding their Klausur in Wildbad Kreuth as every year, this time from January 15-18. But this year's meeting is a little different, basically CSU boss Edmund Stoiber, Bavaria's Ministerpräsident is fighting for his political survival.

Since Stoiber's ascent to glory 14 years ago, Stoiber has never left people neutral. Everything from his malapropisms, his love of the word "ääääääääääääääääääääääh", the inheritance of that Bavarian speciality - the use of the veto (Bavaria famously opposed the Grundgesetz to name one example) and the mir san mir method (health reforms, Turkey joining the EU...), he's certainly been präsent.

This time, the party may not be backing him. Not openly, but it appears that door towards the slow exit may finally been opened. From the alledged muck-raking around former Landrätin (State parliament member for Fürth) Gabriele Pauli regarding her private life and habits and Stoiber's denial of such methods which included the statement about Pauli "You're just not important enough", the dirty tactics allegations go much further back into history.

From Theo Waigel's candidature for the Ministerpräsident post in 1993 being withdrawn after allegations of an affair were curiously made at the same time for example. Or the current Bild Bonanza about Bundesverbraucherschutzminister Klaus Seehhofer and his alledged affair with a 32 year old employee of his ministry who is now pregnant. Hang on, wasn't Seehofer a proprosed candidate for the Ministerpräsident elections in 2008? Now, for the German press to go public with such information is highly unusual, there is a real "privat ist privat" culture in Germany, similar to that in France, who knew for example about Mitterand's daughter and concubine until his death?

In any case, the Bavarian electorate does not seem impressed.

Pollster Forsa asked 1009 Bavarian residents about the saga on behalf of the Abendzeitung. 49% said that they believed that Stoiber had given orders to dig for dirt on Pauli. But in a straight choice of who do you like, Stoiber comes out with 51% to 49% against Pauli.

The way out is now slowly becoming clear.


In any case, the decision is likely to be made in September at the full CSU conference.

Zeit.de article
Stoiber.de - the official Eddie-äääääääääääh site
Other TT Stoiber discussions

Photo here courtesy of Tim.

this CSU discussion has been boring me since December. stoiber is getting old, time for change sounds great but the option of Seehofer or Beckstein don't impress me in the slightest.
(i am assuming that SPD or any other party else hasn't the slightest chance in bavaria)

German politics isn't half as interesting as French, Italian, British or even American for that matter. Mind you Stoiber has that polished self-satified look of Berlusconi, but for blatant use of office for persuit of self interest is a very poor second.

Does the party choose their leader or is there a vote?

The basis of the CSU has gone off Stoiber. he dithereered and allied on whether to go to Berlin and has put himself before the party.
Seehofer and Beckstein aren't exactly unity candidates mind. They coe from different traditions within the party.

Quite possibly on his way out but they could make it last a wee while longer so I can relish in the spectacle of them tearing each other to pieces.

The leader of the CSU is chosen by the CSU. That may be a different person to the who they have as candidate for Minister präsident should they win elections.
Until now Bavaria has been pretty much a one party state.

Early elections might end that...

Can you name some politicians who have selflessly sought office? I'm curious.

Stoiber's not the brightest button in the box either.
Anyone heard that hilarious "speach" he gave about the Transrapid that went round a while ago?

I couldn't be bothered to post this juicy bit of news, it's all so sordid.
Bavaria has everything but a vote of no-confidence so the parliament cannot replace him easily from within their own ranks. But the Bavarian constitution does provide for a public referendum to call for premature elections, all the claiming party needs is a petition signed by at least 1,000,000 people eligible to vote in Bavarian elections. The opposition (SPD, Greens) are considering this route, hoping that the CSU will not get its act together in time to present a suitable candidate and a convincing platform.

According to the SZ today, they might well be able to get a million signatures.

That was yesterday, sweetheart. I can't link as it's in their e-paper, but the math is as follows:

The opposition is counting on 3.5 mio to carry their proposal.

Sorry, I meant I bin picked it on the U Bahn today.

Both my parents.

They're still debating, ETA of the end of registered contributions is 2am Wednesday.
On a sideline, someone has spread the rumor that Horst Seehofer, Secretary for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection and father of three, has been having an affair and that the lady in question is four months pregnant - the someone being a member of the inner circle of the CSU leadership, according to Sebastian von Rothenhan, a member of the Bavarian parliament.
Seehofer is a hot contender for Stoiber's office of Head of the Party, Stoiber's minions are said to be doing their best to prevent him from succeeding.

Well, as predicted in the first post, Stoiber has hung on and the decision has officially been delayed until September's party conference.
Stoiber stated that he enjoys the full Rückendeckung of his party.

Rückendeckung? This man might think he is Caesar but he really should beware the ides of March.

It is more likely that as the opposition to Stoiber has not yet got a viable Gegenkandidat, the decision has been delayed, but the discussions will continue.

Watch your back Herr Stoiber, there appears to be a knife with your name on it.

Still nothing definite. Stoiber has the full support of the CSU-group in the parliament, according to the Speaker of the House. Whether Stoiber has the full support of the voting populace remains to be seen, the opposition is considering asking for self-dissolution of the parliament due to lack of confidence in the government. Failing that, they intend to initiate a popular vote asking for premature elections. The SPD was never closer to gaining power in Bavaria than now.
Meanwhile, the Bayerischer Rundfunk, the CSU's court jester TV station erroneously spread the news that Stoiber had stepped down:

Was going with what ZDF MoMa was reporting this morning, the print press got a little caught out with the timing, those that got up early enough could certainly have picked up a first edition with a Stoiber farewell headline.
Ouch! for using the stock piece though ha ha ha

I guess this is German news. Just been announced while I was listening to Hurricane warnings...

Bye Bye Edmund.

Good riddance. Hopefully the hurricane will blow him away even sooner.

errrrrr errrrrrr errrrrrrr missing you errrrrr already Edie!

Yay...but then again I guess some other stupid d*ckhead will just replace him.

I just heard Glos might be a candidate!

Günther Beck-f*cking-stein and Erwin "Second in the Heß Look Alike Contest" Huber are the two destined to take over his offices. Good idea to separate the power, bad idea to leave it with the CSU.

My German teacher says that if Beckstein gets elected, she's going back to Berlin

Well shoot. If my boy is gonna be unemployed I better start whippin out this photo a bit more.
See if it can get me into any clubs or what-not.


Fr. Stoib, Me, Stoibs and my Fr.

_{This pic has been randomly anonomysized so none of yall can tell who my wife and I are, of course.}