Un petit parti met en danger l'avenir du premier ministre de longue date de la Bavière, Söder

A small political party threatens the future of Bavaria’s long-serving Prime Minister Markus Söder. The ÖDP, or Ecological Democratic Party, has launched a petition campaign aiming to limit the term of the Bavarian Minister-President to a maximum of ten years. This move directly challenges a past initiative once supported by Söder himself, which he has since abandoned. The ÖDP, a minor party with just over 245,000 votes in the October 2023 state election, representing 1.8 percent of the electorate, has begun collecting signatures for a citizens' initiative. Its goal is to amend the Bavarian constitution to restrict the tenure of the Minister-President to two legislative periods, or up to ten years. If successful, this would prevent Söder from running again in the 2028 state election, should he choose to do so. Söder, who leads the Christian Social Union (CSU), had previously advocated for term limits. In January 2018, shortly after becoming Minister-President, he stated, “What one cannot achieve in ten years is also not possible later.” At the time, he was campaigning for a constitutional amendment that would cap the term of the head of government. However, his proposal did not gain enough support in the state parliament, and he eventually changed his stance. In early 2025, Söder announced his intention to run again as the leading candidate in the 2028 state election. He cited the legacy of Franz Josef Strauß, a former CSU leader, and emphasized the importance of continuity within the party. His decision reflects a broader strategy to maintain influence within the CSU and secure leadership positions for himself. The ÖDP argues that democratic governance requires checks on power. According to its leaders, Agnes Becker and Tobias Ruff, “Democracy means that power is time-bound. We believe ten years, or two terms, is sufficient. And twice is enough.” They propose amending Article 44 of the Bavarian Constitution, which currently outlines the process for electing the Minister-President. Their plan would add a clause stating that anyone who has held the office for ten years cannot be re-elected. This initiative builds on the ÖDP’s history of successful petitions. In 2010, they initiated a campaign that led to stricter smoking regulations in public spaces. In 2019, their effort known as “Save the Bees” resulted in stronger protections for endangered species, marking one of the most impactful citizen-led initiatives in Bavarian history. Within the CSU, the proposed change has sparked concern. CSU parliamentary group leader Klaus Holetschek criticized the petition, calling it an attempt to remove Söder from power. “Term limits sound appealing, but in reality, they weaken voters’ freedom,” he told the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation (BR). He argued that democracy relies on the electorate’s choice rather than rigid timelines. Stability and reliable leadership, he added, are more crucial than forced changes in leadership. The path to constitutional reform is complex. To enact such a change, the ÖDP must gather enough signatures to trigger a formal vote. Once approved, the amendment would require approval by the Bavarian Parliament and a referendum. While the ÖDP has demonstrated success in previous campaigns, the challenge of securing broad support remains significant. For now, Söder has not publicly responded to the petition. However, given the CSU’s historical reluctance to accept external pressures, the situation could escalate. As the 2028 election approaches, the debate over term limits may become a central issue in Bavarian politics.