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He is one of the few hope for the CDU in the eastern German states: Jan Redmann, 41, who has been the CDU parliamentary group leader in the Potsdam state parliament since the middle of last year, is running for the Christian Democrats' executive committee next weekend.

WELT:

Mr. Redmann, you govern Brandenburg together with the SPD and the Greens in a so-called Kenya coalition - with which of your two partners is it easier to work together?

Jan Redmann:

In terms of content, the differences to the Greens are greater than to the SPD.

However, the Social Democrats, who have provided the Prime Minister in Brandenburg since reunification, occasionally tend to see politics as a continuation of administration by other means.

In this respect, the Greens are closer to us when it comes to wanting to change something.

We usually have to discuss the direction of these changes in great detail.

"Maybe in the end it will also be enough for black and yellow"

Source: picture alliance / dpa / dpa-Zentral

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WELT:

At the moment, a lot looks like the Union could form a federal coalition with the Greens in the coming year - would you recommend black-green to your party leadership?

Redmann:

A coalition with the Greens is complex and stressful.

You have to take a lot of time to debate with one another.

In Brandenburg, however, we have resolved not to agree on the lowest common denominator, but rather to allow each partner their own visibility.

In this way we can shape a policy in the ministries we hold that is very different from the positions of the Greens.

On the other hand, you have to give the partners in their departments more legroom.

If this can be transferred to the federal level, a black-green coalition is conceivable in my opinion.

Söder can imagine a coalition with the Greens

CSU boss Markus Söder is already preparing for the election campaign.

Black and green are attractive to many, he says.

The open flirting goes far too far for the Greens.

Source: WORLD / Daniel Franz

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WELT:

Wouldn't it be better, especially in these times of crisis, to rely on the coalition with the SPD again?

Redmann:

I already notice a certain amount of fatigue in the grand coalition.

In this respect, a different alliance would be good for federal politics.

Maybe in the end it will be enough for black and yellow.

WELT:

But both the Union and the FDP would have to make significant gains.

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Redmann:

We

plan

to do that!

WORLD:

How must the Union position itself so that it could be enough?

Redmann:

To do this, we have to master two different strategic challenges.

In the west, especially in the cities, the Greens are now our most relevant competitor.

Markus Söder is just showing how it can be done - he is now paneling the cabinet room with green plants.

In the East, on the other hand, we must above all be careful not to lose rural areas.

The AfD is our main opponent and the focus of our work must be on the issues of internal security, a strong state and services of general interest.

The people in the sparsely populated regions in particular attach great importance to the visibility of the state.

Internal and social security must be our main issue here.

WORLD:

So why is it that the CDU is finding it increasingly difficult in the eastern German states?

Redmann:

The promise of future and prosperity that the Union carries within itself will no longer be taken away from us to a sufficient extent.

We have regions here from which a whole generation of young people has emigrated;

there are areas where the population is aging and there is very little industry.

Logically, people find it difficult to be optimistic.

Parties that tend to be defeatist, who persuade people that things are only going downhill anyway, have it much easier.

WORLD:

Can it be that the Corona rules increase the distrust of many people in the democratic parties and the future viability of the country?

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Redmann:

I don't see any connection there.

On the contrary.

The pandemic is making people realize just how important a functioning, protective, preventive state is.

WORLD:

How long can a country survive such a state of emergency?

Redmann:

If there was no light at the end of the tunnel, if the situation appeared hopeless, it would certainly be difficult.

But that is not the case.

Ever since it has been clear that we have suitable vaccines, there has been hope that the pandemic will be over by the end of the year.

I am sure that we as a society will be able to endure it until then.

WORLD: A

lot depends on the people who represent a party to the outside world.

Why are three North Rhine-Westphalian politicians, but not one East German politician, applying for the CDU chairmanship?

Redmann:

We are currently experiencing a generation change in East Germany.

Those who started politics in 1990 are gradually retiring.

The younger generation, such as the Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, are now assuming responsibility - and will also play an important role in the federal party in the medium term.

Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly unfortunate that there will be no East German among the deputy party chairmen even after the party congress next weekend.

WORLD: In

your opinion, who would be the right chairman to address the voters in the eastern German states?

Redmann:

At the federal party conference, the CDU will have to choose a good captain.

Not the center forward, not the right winger, but the one who holds the team together.

Armin Laschet has proven that he can do it.

He led the North Rhine-Westphalian Union to success with good right-wing runners like Wolfgang Bosbach and Friedrich Merz;

also with Karl-Josef Laumann, who tends to serve the social wing of the party.

Laschet will also manage this in the Bund.

WORLD:

More "Wessi" than Laschet is hardly possible, right?

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Redmann:

It's less about the origin than about whether the new party leader understands the specific problems that exist in the East.

There is also a conflict between town and country in NRW.

Laschet knows what we're all about.

WORLD:

So far it seemed more that Friedrich Merz is the favorite of most East German regional associations.

Is that not correct?

Redmann:

It is different.

In my opinion, Armin Laschet is ahead in Brandenburg.

WORLD:

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the state association has just voted in favor of Friedrich Merz.

Why do the East German regional associations not coordinate with each other on such important issues in order to increase their weight?

Redmann:

There are certainly agreements between the East German state associations for the board elections.

We support each other in the elections to the board.

There are different views on the choice of the chairman himself - in the end, each individual delegate will be committed to his conscience.

WORLD:

Speaking of agreements: As the CDU parliamentary group leader in a Kenya coalition, were you actually surprised that such an alliance in Saxony-Anhalt broke the international broadcasting treaty?

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Redmann:

It was hinted at beforehand.

So that didn't surprise me.

I myself campaigned for a position to be worked out that would make broadcasting reform possible.

In that case, however, one would have had to first debate the mandate of public broadcasters - and not just the amount of the broadcasting fee.

WELT:

Do you also think that ARD and ZDF neglect the East in their reporting?

Redmann: The

fact is that the large, supraregional editorial offices of ARD and ZDF are all not located in East Germany.

In this respect, public broadcasting beyond the respective regional broadcasting houses is a purely West German event.

I think you can feel that, also in the sense that you sometimes get the impression that when it comes to the East, a foreign country is being reported.

Sometimes there is a certain arrogance expressed.

WORLD:

Who should the CDU and CSU send into the race as candidates for chancellor?

Redmann: In

any case, it should be someone who a) has already assumed government responsibility and who b) has proven that he can survive an election campaign.

In this respect, both Armin Laschet and Markus Söder can be candidates for chancellor.

WORLD:

Who would you prefer?

Redmann:

It doesn't make much sense to make a recommendation now.

The CDU and CSU will decide this together, taking into account which of the two has the greater chance of winning.

WORLD:

Health Minister Jens Spahn has no chance?

Redmann:

The party leaders usually have first access, but of course Jens Spahn has also shown that he can take responsibility for government.