Markus Söder

The leaders of Germany's biggest conservative party will support Armin Laschet to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor candidate at the next election.

CSU's Markus Söder told the party leadership meeting that he was against a hasty decision, and called for talks with the CDU at the end of the week.

In Bavaria, from next Monday onwards, there will be an obligation to wear FFP2 masks in public transport and in retail. This was decided by the cabinet on Tuesday in Munich, as Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said.

Söder said the "normal community masks" are in the Corona pandemic to protect others. FFP2 masks also protect the wearer himself. The goal, he said, is to improve safety in public transportation and commerce.

"Availability in trade is sufficiently guaranteed, so there is no shortage of FFP2," the prime minister stressed.

Because of the ongoing Covid19 situation in Bavaria, Minister-President Markus Söder has now called officially a case of disaster. The infection numbers have to go down, he said on Sunday. New restrictions, especially curfews will be in effect beginning with Wednesday, December the 9th.

Following the spread of the coronavirus the premier of the German state Bavaria, Markus Söder, has announced that the Oktoberfest has been canceled. "Based on the current situation, I can not imagine that such a large event would even be possible at that time", he said.

Deutsche Welle reports that although slated to start only on September 19, it's "unlikely" Oktoberfest will happen this year.

"I am very very skeptical. And based on the current situation, I can hardly imagine that such a large event would even be possible at that time," Markus Söder told local public broadcaster Bayerische Rundfunk on Wednesday evening. A final decision is to be made by Söder, and the mayor of Munich will make a final decision in the next two weeks.

Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival and draws in 6 million people every year to the city of Munich.