The difficulty facing the right-of-centre CSU in the wake of the Bavarian state elections seems to be something along the lines of: you were too racist for some voters and not racist enough for others. The result was they lost considerable voters to the Greens and to the far-right.
For voters sick to the stomach of the CSU’s racist anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim bigotry that dominated their badly misjudged election campaign (notably from the top of the party), around 180,000 of them jumped the fair distance to the Bavarian Greens – a party that is liberal-minded on immigration, has no truck with racism and, though hardly the radical party of yesteryear, still focuses on core environmental issues.
Does it mark a sea change in European-wide eco-politics? It’s not clear, but it sure as hell feels like one. Particularly, in Munich – whose very heart appears to be determinedly greener, more open, than the rest of Bavaria. The CSU still dominates state-wide but it has nowhere near the appeal in Munich, as seen by the city’s website breakdown of the results.
Across Munich, the Greens won 31.1% (19% up) to the CSU’s 24.8% (11.9% down) and the SPD’s terrible 12.8% (19.3% down) – the centre-left party shipped 210,000 voters across Bavaria to the Greens. The far-right AfD won 6.5%, below the 10.2% across the whole state, while the largely rural Free Voters also took votes from the CSU when winning 6.1%..
In my home area, München-Pasing (German), the former CSU deputy lord mayor of Munich (German), Josef Schmid, won with 30.8%. Significantly, however, this was with an 11.9% reduction compared to five years ago. In contrast, the second-placed Greens won 27.9%, up 17.2%.
With European politics in something of a flux, it would be hasty to draw too many continent-wide concrete conclusions. In Munich, however, after consistent performances for a considerable period, and with rising stars such as Katherine Schulze and Benjamin Adjei, unlike the CSU, this seems like a party very much on the up.
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October 2025
- Oct 16, 2025 New study reveals Munich travel habits Oct 16, 2025
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August 2023
- Aug 29, 2023 Argentina's Andes: beauty and tranquility Aug 29, 2023
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January 2020
- Jan 8, 2020 Surprised CSU grassroots rejected a Muslim? Jan 8, 2020
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December 2019
- Dec 13, 2019 It’s not just MPs who you’ve lost Dec 13, 2019
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July 2019
- Jul 4, 2019 Robert Andreasch, worthy winner of Munich journalism award Jul 4, 2019
- Jul 1, 2019 Munich police raid on refugee shelter leaves mother with broken arm and son arrested Jul 1, 2019
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May 2019
- May 5, 2019 New Pinakothek, exhibition: Die Neue Heimat (1950-1982), A Public Housing Corporation and Its Building May 5, 2019
- May 1, 2019 Spotlight magazine - Munich’s Brits: a sporting community May 1, 2019
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April 2019
- Apr 17, 2019 Paris and Taq Kasra, Baghdad Apr 17, 2019
- Apr 11, 2019 Denmark Apr 11, 2019
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March 2019
- Mar 8, 2019 Passport decision time Mar 8, 2019
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February 2019
- Feb 24, 2019 Business Spotlight: Brexit Britain Feb 24, 2019
- Feb 14, 2019 Munich's Fridays For Future Feb 14, 2019
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January 2019
- Jan 28, 2019 Book Review: The Unravelling. High Hopes and Missed Opportunities in Iraq Jan 28, 2019
- Jan 15, 2019 Book review - John Robertson, Iraq. A History Jan 15, 2019
- Jan 1, 2019 Poverty Safari, Darren McGarvey Jan 1, 2019
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December 2018
- Dec 28, 2018 Iraqi artist recreates 3D ancient cities Dec 28, 2018
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November 2018
- Nov 28, 2018 Ireland: Waterford and the King of the Vikings Nov 28, 2018
- Nov 27, 2018 Spotlight: Pakistan Nov 27, 2018
- Nov 12, 2018 Business Spotlight: Israel Nov 12, 2018
- Nov 10, 2018 Business Spotlight magazine: South Korea Nov 10, 2018
- Nov 2, 2018 Thousands of dead fish ... the rivers of Babylon Nov 2, 2018
- Nov 1, 2018 Lacrosse interview – German and US players in Munich Nov 1, 2018
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October 2018
- Oct 31, 2018 Book review: Alan Rusbridger, Breaking News. The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now Oct 31, 2018
- Oct 26, 2018 Food: Sababa, Munich's best falafal restaurant Oct 26, 2018
- Oct 19, 2018 CSU loss is a Green gain Oct 19, 2018
- Oct 18, 2018 Gozo's Ta Tumasa & hints of the Middle East Oct 18, 2018
- Oct 18, 2018 The Price of Plastic - For One Turtle Oct 18, 2018
- Oct 14, 2018 Visit Malta, stay on Gozo Oct 14, 2018