Local elections often receive little public attention beyond the respective regions. Things are different in Bavaria and with the CSU: As a party limited to one federal state and with strong roots in rural areas, local elections are an important yardstick for the Christian Socialists. The results of the first round at the beginning of March and the runoff election last Sunday are correspondingly alarming for them – especially for the party leader Markus Söder.

In the city, local council and district council elections only 32.5 percent voted for the CSU. That is two percentage points less than 2020 and the worst result since 1952.

That alone would have been manageable for the party. But then numerous CSU district administrators lost their office in the runoff elections. Instead of the previous 54, the party now only has 40 district administrators. Depending on how the non-party candidates were counted, the Free Voters were able to double the number of their positions to up to 28.

Ursula Münch, director of the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing, said in an interview with FOCUS onlinethe CSU lost its unique selling point as a conservative force in Bavaria with the election. The party “no longer has the presence, visibility and good local contacts,” said the political scientist. “The alarm bells must now go off in the party.”

Söder calls for “honest analysis” in the CSU after local elections

To the outside world, the CSU leadership sounds disappointed, but not alarmed. Party leader and Prime Minister Söder spoke on Monday of a “damper” that made an “honest analysis” necessary. However, there is obviously major unrest within the party, as CSU politicians described in an interview with FOCUS online.

The analyzes as to why the result was so poor vary widely. Söder gives very different reasons, which in his opinion mainly lie in the individual districts. Here’s an incumbent who made a mistake. There is an unfavorable constellation in which AfD voters from the first round switched to the Free Voters rather than to the CSU in the runoff election. So the party leader keeps responsibility far away from himself.

Söder’s election analysis could become an own goal

There is still no public criticism of Söder. Behind closed doors, parts of the party consider his analysis to be too short-sighted. A CSU insider even believes that the chairman has scored an own goal: elected CSU district administrators who do not want to bear the blame alone could direct their displeasure against Söder and start a debate about the party leader.

Many people already see him as responsible. What is striking is that CSU politicians mention many different reasons for the poor performance in conversation – but they then attribute them more or less directly to Söder.

Space instead of hospitals: Is Söder setting the wrong topics?

Firstly, there is Söder’s setting of topics. One point of criticism from the party is that he is fixating on issues that have long since been completed, such as the nuclear phase-out. Another is that he cares a lot about space travel, but little about maintaining Bavarian hospitals – a topic that is much closer to the reality of life for citizens. Political scientist Münch also identifies this as a weakness of the chairman: “Voters and party members have the feeling that their concrete everyday concerns only marginally affect Söder.”

Secondly, a well-connected party member criticizes that the planning of the election campaign was not up to date. Other parties, for example the Greens, were much more digital. The accusation is directed at the party headquarters – and thus indirectly against Söder.

The criticism of his election campaign appearances is direct. Although he was certainly traveling around the country, he tended to steal the show from the local candidates during appointments rather than do a show with them.

The success of the Free Voters could drag the CSU into a downward spiral

And thirdly, dissatisfaction in the CSU is directed against Söder’s strategic approach to the competition. The party leader has long seen the Greens as his main opponents. The Free Voters and the AfD – both of which gained strength in the local elections – played a minor role in Söder’s beer tent speeches.

A good party insider fears that this could have long-term effects. The Free Voters could now use their numerous district administrators to send them into the race in further elections, for example for district councils or even for the state parliament. It would be enough if these well-known politicians cost the CSU a few percentage points to drag the party further into a downward spiral.

Söder tries to capture criticism of himself

As can be heard, Söder has recognized that the local election results could be uncomfortable for him. Accordingly, he and his people should actively try to calm angry local politicians. This mainly happens behind the scenes.

But late on Monday evening, Söder apparently felt compelled to send a public signal to smooth things over. On