As a party it exists only in Bavaria: the Christian Social Union (CSU). In terms of its programme, it essentially pursues the same goals as the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which bears almost the same name and is politically active in the remaining 15 of the 16 federal states. This is why the CSU is also referred to as the big CDU’s little sister and both see themselves as “one flesh”. Because of their very similar worldview, they have formed a joint parliamentary group in the German Bundestag for decades.

Their main goal in the snap federal election on February 23, 2025 is to replace the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and its chancellor Olaf Scholz at the head of the government. The chances of that are good: in the December Deutschlandtrend poll, the CDU/CSU parties received twice as much support as the SPD, with 32%.

The attack on Magdeburg as a pre-election issue

The long-simmering immigration debate is a major campaign issue and is expected to be at the center of a three-day Christian Socialist conference that begins Monday at the historic Benedictine monastery in Zeon, Bavaria.

After the deadly attack on the Christmas Market in Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt) just before Christmas Eve, the mood and tone have become even more heated. The suspect is originally from Saudi Arabia and, according to previous findings, is said to have announced an attack several times on social media, albeit with arguments and slogans originating from the far-right space. All parties, with the exception of the Left Party, are now calling for a stricter immigration policy.

According to reports in the Bavarian media, the CSU appears to have particularly ambitious ideas. Excerpts from a position text are already circulating ahead of the traditional annual meeting of its MPs from January 6 to 8, 2025 at Seeon Monastery: “Whoever wants to live permanently with us must also provide permanent services and not claim permanent benefits,” it says. .

The electoral program sounds a little different

With this request, the CSU goes further than what it decided together with the CDU in their joint program for the federal election. It states: “In general, benefits in kind should take precedence over benefits in cash where possible. The payment card should be introduced horizontally and restrictively in all federal states.

Legal expert Volker Behme-Nessler from the University of Oldenburg believes this proposal is misguided: “Whoever lives here legally as a refugee cannot be deprived of his livelihood,” he told the private Welt TV channel, referring to the German and European Right. Changing this is complicated because it involves a critical question: “Is someone persecuted, does someone need protection?”

Deportations will theoretically be easier

Behme-Nessler sees a greater chance of success for another demand in the document: “Anyone who commits a crime or intentionally commits multiple crimes must leave our country.” This would be legally possible. Current laws are by no means overly lenient: “More could be deported, but deportations don’t work.”

If the CDU’s view passes, the pressure on immigrants will increase further: Anyone who cannot leave the country or be deported should be able to be detained indefinitely pending deportation. The jurist considers such ideas to be populist. “This is an election campaign,” emphasizes Beme-Nessler. The issue of immigration abuse and illegal immigration is high on people’s agenda. “But from a legal and humanitarian point of view this is a problem.”

The CSU wants to “steal” an issue from the AfD

Political scientist Volker Cronenberg from the University of Bonn also considers the Bavarian Christian Socialists’ document on immigration to be a pre-election maneuver. He is trying to take away a major issue from the populist, far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD): “Immigration, flight, the issue of internal justice.”

However, Cronenberg does not recognize significant differences between CSU and CDU. The basic program presented by their joint chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz was already a departure from the immigration policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who remains in power until 2021. In 2015 she had allowed almost a million refugees into the country, mostly from Syria and Iraq. Her motto then was “We can do it!”

Merkel and the so-called “reign of injustice”

The CSU, led by then Minister President of Bavaria Horst Seehofer, had a different opinion. Germany’s later interior minister called Merkel’s refugee policy a “reign of injustice.” However, political expert Cronenberg also refers to the actions of other parties in the years that followed.

On the “Welt” TV show, he mentions SPD Chancellor Scholz by name, who appeared on the cover of “Der Spiegel” magazine before the election campaign for the Bundestag elections even started. The headline was a quote from the current head of the German government on immigration: “We finally have to deport people on a large scale!”

The Wagenknecht alliance might benefit

However, not much has been done in this direction, reminds Cronenberg on the occasion of the continuing low number of deported refugees. The effort often fails because their countries of origin refuse to accept them. Cronenberg believes that many promises and announcements are made, but very little is actually implemented in terms of policy. “And that increases frustration and resentment.” This in turn drives voters to the AfD or the Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).

This party was founded in January 2024 by breakaways from the Left (Die Linke). In terms of its content, there is a lot of overlap between the two political forces – except for one issue: immigration. On this issue, BSW is in the camp that favors a tougher stance. Together with the AfD and the CSU it has now proposed more extensive restrictions on people potentially affected by it.

Legal and party concerns

Legal concerns aside, however, there is another reason the plans are likely to remain on the back burner after the general election: A government led by the Christian Union parties would need to rely on at least one coalition partner. The most likely candidates would be the SPD or the Greens.

Although both parties are also in favor of a tougher stance on immigrants, the CSU’s ideas go too far for them: “The CSU is once again overstepping the mark and pandering to the AfD,” the interior minister said. of SPD affairs, Dirk Wiese, in the newspaper “Rheinische Post”.

Edited by: Kostas Argyros