Leader of Bavarian CSU promises new start with Merkel's party

Bavarian State Prime Minister and designated leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), Markus Soeder, gestures at the party meeting in Munich, Germany, January 19, 2019. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - The new leader of Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) on Saturday promised an era of improved cooperation with Angela Merkel's conservative party, with whom they share power at a federal level, in a bid to win back disillusioned voters.

With European elections in May and four German state votes this year, both the CSU and Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) want to draw a line under their bickering, especially on migrant policy, which nearly brought down the coalition last year.