Nuremberg,Germany - The Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavaria-only sister party to Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, stressed its independence at a party Congress Saturday by focusing on its different approach to taxes. With a German general election set for September 27, Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which does not operate in Bavaria, has striven to present an image of unity with the CSU.
Horst Seehofer, who took over as party leader and Bavarian premier last year, and was re-elected Saturday with slightly diminished support, has adopted a more populist stance on issues dear to Bavarians' hearts.
Policies adopted at the congress in Nuremberg included a call to reduce Germany's value-added tax on sales of food, beverages and accommodation. Beer gardens and tiny restaurants are emblematic of the Bavarian lifestyle.
While the CSU said it would pursue further tax cuts in a future federal government, the bulk of its other policies were identical to those of the centre-right CDU.
Seehofer said the CSU had the job of protecting Bavarian interests from decisions made in Berlin and Brussels.
"Nobody is going to stop me doing so," he told about 1,000 party members.
Going by opinion polls, Merkel is expected to win a plurality at the national election and go on to form a new coalition with the CSU and a small pro-business party, the Free Democrats.
Seehofer, 60, denied friction with Merkel, who gave a guest speech calling for unity.
His decline in party support suggested Saturday he had made a few enemies within the CSU. He was the sole candidate for the leadership.
Of 835 votes, 710 were for Seehofer, 82 were marked "no," 14 contained write-in names of other people and 29 were spoiled. In per- cent terms, he won by 88.1 per cent, down from 90.3 per cent last year.
Criticism is usually muted at German party congresses, which have the media present. Votes are often the sole indication of any dissent.
