Markus Söder, the leader of the CSU, is positioning himself for a potential run for Chancellor, despite acknowledging that CDU leader Friedrich Merz currently holds the upper hand in the race.

Söder has ruled out taking a ministerial position in a future government, emphasizing that as party chairman and Bavarian Prime Minister, he can better represent the interests of Bavaria and the CSU.

He criticized the current coalition government, labeling it a "failed administration" and specifically targeting the Green Party's economic policies.

Söder plans to collaborate with Merz this summer to determine the Union's Chancellor candidate, with the goal of unseating the current government.

He remains open to discussing reforms to the debt brake but insists that any financial negotiations must also address the unequal treatment of Bavaria in the fiscal system.