German agriculture minister to lead Bavaria

German agriculture minister Horst Seehofer has been elected as party leader of Bavaria’s Christian conservatives. The victory is widely expected to pave the way for him to be voted in as premier on Monday.

He would take over from Gunther Beckstein, who stepped down after the conservatives’ resounding defeat in regional elections last month. “From today on,” said Seehofer, “we must work hard to ensure we will not need any coalition partners after the next Bavarian elections. With all the respect due to our coalition partner, with whom we work very well, I prefer not to need one,” he added.

The party also voted in favour of a coalition with the Liberals, an unprecedented alliance for the conservatives who have ruled over Bavaria single-handedly since 1962. Bavaria’s conservatives are precious allies for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who wouldn’t have won the 2005 general election without them.

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