Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Chancellor Friedrich Merz will attend the CSU's traditional winter retreat at Kloster Seeon. The gathering of CSU parliamentarians runs from January 6 to 8 and will be led for the first time by Alexander Hoffmann.
The CSU's winter retreat at Kloster Seeon traditionally kicks off the political year. This year, the gathering of parliamentarians will take place from January 6 to 8, led for the first time by Alexander Hoffmann, the new head of the CSU parliamentary group. Prominent guests include Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), making his first visit to Seeon since becoming head of government, CSU leader Markus Söder, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
Hoffmann emphasized the CSU's resolve: "We are determined to advance the policy shift in 2026." The party positions itself as "the voice of reason in politics, the stability bloc in the Bundestag, and the engine of this federal government." Priorities include bolstering internal and external security, getting the economy back on a growth path, and reducing societal polarization.
Migration will be a key focus, with EU Interior Commissioner Magnus Brunner as a discussion partner. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen is expected to address threats from Russia, civil protection, and migration as a weapon. CDU campaigner Manuel Hagel from neighboring Baden-Württemberg will attend; he aims to succeed Green Minister President Winfried Kretschmann in March. Other guests include Hildegard Müller from the automotive industry, Josef Schuster from the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and sprinter Alexandra Burghardt.
