83.6% – Söder Gets His Worst Result and Reads Out Hate Messages
The CSU party conference delivers a wake-up call for Markus Söder. At 83.6%, the Bavarian Minister-President receives his worst result as party leader. 104 delegates voted against him. In an emotional speech, Söder read out brutal hate messages – showing himself more vulnerable than ever.
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Historic low: Söder shows vulnerability – the party doesn't reward him.
🇬🇧🇺🇸 Understanding the CSU
The CSU (Christian Social Union) is the Bavarian sister party of the CDU – they only operate in Bavaria but are extremely powerful. Think of it like Scotland's SNP but conservative and permanently in power.
Markus Söder is Bavaria's state premier and CSU leader – a figure comparable to a powerful US Governor (like Ron DeSantis) or UK regional leader, but with much more national influence through the coalition government.
Key Points
- Historic low: At 83.6%, Söder receives his worst result as CSU leader. 104 delegates voted against him. Audimax, Dec. 2025
- Emotional moment: Söder read out brutal hate messages to highlight the coarsening of public discourse. turi2, Dec. 2025
- Reasons for the drop: Berlin compromises, failure to contain the AfD, and the CSU's one-man-show frustrate the base.
- ESC boycott: Söder announces he'll boycott Eurovision – a populist maneuver. Radio RST, Dec. 2025
- Implications for Merz: A weakened CSU leader could become more unpredictable in Berlin.
A Moment of Pause
It was the most unusual moment in Markus Söder's long career. In the middle of his party conference speech, he stopped. Picked up a stack of papers. And read out what citizens write to him.
- "You stinking Jewish pig should be gassed." (antisemitic slur)
- "Mass murderer and child abuser."
- "I will shoot you, cut you into slices and throw you to the tigers."
Söder read the hate messages not with anger, but with almost resigned calm. He wanted to "shake people awake." He wanted to show what politicians endure daily – nationwide, but especially at local level.
This moment was powerful. It showed a Söder who presented himself not as "the strongman," but as a human being.
But the CSU isn't a party for group therapy sessions.
83.6% – A Freefall
The election result came as a shock: 83.6% of delegates voted for Söder as party leader.
The Söder scorecard:
- 2019 (first election): 87.4%
- 2019 (re-confirmation): 91.3%
- 2023 (record): 96.6%
- 2025: 83.6%
104 delegates voted against him. In the tightly controlled CSU, that's not a "deviation" – it's a statement.
Reasons for the Drop
The golden years are over – Söder is fighting on too many fronts.
The Berlin Shackles:
As Minister-President, Söder must represent Bavarian interests. As CSU leader, he must support Chancellor Merz. The compromises in the Grand Coalition (welfare reform, heating law) don't sit well with the conservative base. They ask: What's the CSU actually getting out of Berlin?
The AfD Blockade:
Despite harsh rhetoric against the AfD ("Putin's court jesters"), the CSU has failed to diminish the far-right party in Bavaria. The AfD remains entrenched. This gnaws at the core of CSU identity: "There must be no democratically legitimate party to our right."
The One-Man-Show:
The CSU is too centered on Söder. There are no visible crown princes. General Secretary Martin Huber tried to praise Söder as "Champions League" – but the base wants breadth in leadership, not a one-man rule.
The Counterpunch: ESC Boycott as Populism
To appease the disappointed base, Söder reached into the populist playbook. He announced a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
In light of international boycott calls against Israel, Söder positioned himself as pro-Israel – but twisted the argument into Bavarian parochialism:
"If they don't want us, we won't go either. We never win anyway, and we have to pay for everything." – Markus Söder, CSU Party Conference 2025
Classic Söder: A complex foreign policy topic (Israel solidarity) linked with frustration over German payments and sporting failures – to generate applause in the hall.
What This Means for Merz
For Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Söder's weakness is a problem. A wounded CSU leader could become unpredictable. If Söder needs to sharpen his profile in Bavaria, he might abandon coalition discipline in Berlin.
The Grand Coalition doesn't just have an SPD problem. It has a Bavaria problem.
Outlook: The Wounded Lion
Markus Söder emerges weakened from this party conference. The 83.6% is a crack in the facade of invincibility. The question is: How will he respond?
With more toughness? More populism? More distance from Berlin?
The coming months will show whether Söder stops the power drain – or whether the CSU starts looking for a new strongman.