Söder: "We are clearly number one" - Bavaria's CSU wins rural strongholds but stumbles in key cities
Bavaria's local elections have delivered mixed results for the CSU. While the party celebrated strong performances in many areas, it faced setbacks in key city areas like Munich and Bamberg. Leader Markus Söder claimed overall victory but acknowledged disappointment in the state's capital.
The CSU secured wins across most district administrator races and gained ground in several major city areas. In Nuremberg, the party's candidate Marcus König took a commanding lead, advancing to the runoff. Söder emphasised the party's dominance in rural areas and smaller municipalities.
However, the election brought losses in Bamberg, where former health minister Melanie Huml was defeated. The biggest blow came in Munich, where CSU's mayoral candidate Clemens Baumgärtner received just 21.2% of the vote—a slight drop of 0.1 percentage points from past elections. His failure to reach the runoff marked another setback for the party in the city, where it has struggled against the Greens and SPD in recent years.
Söder openly criticised the Munich result, calling it frustrating. Despite the losses, he ruled out any future cooperation with the AfD and stressed that local CSU branches would remain free to form their own alliances without party directives.
The election leaves the CSU with a strong position in much of Bavaria but highlights ongoing challenges in urban areas. The party now faces the task of regrouping in Munich while maintaining its grip on rural and district-level leadership. Söder's refusal to engage with the AfD sets clear limits on future political partnerships.
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