Election in Schleswig-Holstein: A breath of fresh air in the north

Schleswig-Holstein votes - and hardly anyone takes notice.

Corona and war overlay many things.

So it doesn't seem very interesting what's happening in the far north: a Jamaican coalition is doing its job without any scandals.

In fact, the state elections next Sunday are exciting.

It is relevant for the whole of Germany how politics is made in Schleswig-Holstein, because a lot is happening there in terms of energy supply.

This applies in the short term, because a floating terminal for the import of LNG (liquefied natural gas) could probably be installed in Brunsbüttel within months.

It applies in the medium term because Schleswig-Holstein has a lot of wind continuously and this source off the coast and on land can be used even more.

And it applies in the longer term, because the super power line is supposed to run from here to the south to keep the industry running there.

So the question is who sees these possibilities as an opportunity and who emphasizes the risks - and how the 2.3 million voters think about it.

In any case, the energy transition can be the beginning of a new industrialization for Schleswig-Holstein.

A first major investment is within reach.

The Swedish company Northvolt wants to invest 4 billion euros in a factory that will produce battery cells for one million cars a year and will need 3,000 employees.

From the perspective of the automotive industry, this is one of many of these factories that will be needed in the future.

Such a huge investment is something completely new for Schleswig-Holstein.

Hardly any large companies with charisma

To date, there have been practically no large companies north of Hamburg that have enough appeal to be able to form an ecosystem of related or competing companies and research institutions, which in turn are attractive to specialists and trainees.

At most, the Chemcoast Park in Brunsbüttel comes close to this model.

It is the largest industrial area in Schleswig-Holstein - and yet only offers 4000 jobs.

What a stark contrast to Baden-Württemberg, for example, where the logo of a medium-sized company that is the world market leader for something seems to appear behind every forest.

In contrast, small and micro-enterprises in the maritime economy, in tourism, in health care and in the food industry are characteristic of the economy in the far north.

Almost three quarters of the added value comes from the service sector, where earnings tend to be lower.

Nowhere else is there such a high proportion of minimum wage earners.

Measured in terms of economic output per capita, Schleswig-Holstein is in last place among the western German federal states.

The term "underdeveloped" should no longer be used as an excuse for these facts.

Instead, Schleswig-Holstein should play the trump card of offering cheap access to energy produced in a climate-friendly manner.

However, it takes much more than wind turbines and an LNG terminal.

In order to improve the structure, a reasonable road and rail network is needed to transport subcontracted parts and finished products, and by the way, also workers.

The skilled workers of tomorrow need modern vocational training and an attractive environment.

All this requires creativity, a lot of money and a lot of staying power for the implementation.

So it really depends on who makes the best use of the opportunities.

CDU man Daniel Günther, the man with the highest popularity ratings of all prime ministers, skilfully hijacked the energy issue and at the same time asserted that he would like to continue working in the Jamaica coalition.

The surveys are showing more and more clearly that the CDU can even choose its partner.

Günther would therefore have the choice between the SPD (which both parties do not want), the Greens and the FDP.

Even the South Schleswig Voters' Association (SSW) could play a role in forming a government, especially since as a minority party, unlike the AfD, it does not have to fear entry into the state parliament because of the five percent hurdle.

With the slogan #keep on course, Günther gives the impression that with him as prime minister, things will simply continue as before, comfortably and safely.

This catches on for many people in times of uncertainty.

In truth, the policy is likely to be very different depending on the coalition partner.

The voters in Schleswig-Holstein really have the chance to influence next Sunday – also for the whole of Germany.