The Free State of Bavaria and its party: the CSU faces an electoral test. OSW Commentary NUMBER 288 | 10.10.201

Frymark, Kamil (2018) The Free State of Bavaria and its party: the CSU faces an electoral test. OSW Commentary NUMBER 288 | 10.10.201. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

The Christian Social Union (CSU) has ruled Bavaria continuously for sixty years. The CSU’s domination of the province’s political scene, together with its influence on federal policies through its partnership with the CDU in the Bundestag, has made the party one of the most effective groups in Europe. In the medium term Bavaria will have to face challenges connected with the transformation and digitisation of industry, which could undermine the province’s current economic model. In addition, the CSU is being confronted on the political scene by Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a grouping which has a similar profile to the CSU in several aspects. The elections on 14 October 2018 could permanently change the balance of power in Bavaria’s Landtag, lead to a serious weakening of the CSU’s dominance in Bavaria, and affect Germany’s federal politics.

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