Overview
- Markus Söder, recovering from a recent hip operation, attended the CSU Bundestag caucus at Kloster Seeon and used crutches for his opening appearance.
- He declared that 2026 will be a very serious year, signaling a shift to a more state-focused posture after his weakest party-conference endorsement in December.
- Organizers brought him in with LKA vehicles through a small side entrance to reduce exposure on the icy grounds before he spoke to reporters.
- The retreat’s guest list includes Jewish Council president Josef Schuster, auto lobby leader Hildegard Müller, Finland’s foreign minister, Lithuania’s president and the federal chancellor to address security and industry concerns.
- Söder has said the surgery ended years of hip pain and, as he previously told BILD, he opted for the procedure after struggling to move during a tennis match with his sons.