display
In the last few meters, Baden-Württemberg's Green Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann was once again worried about the victory that the opinion polls had so unanimously promised him.
But when the polling stations closed, it was clear: the Christian Democrats actually brought the election, as predicted, a historic debacle, for the Greens it was a success.
Right before election Sunday, Kretschmann reported on a critical letter that he had recently received.
"I'm ashamed of having voted you twice," someone grumbled.
However, Kretschmann did not reveal whether a native Green was bitter about too little climate protection and wind power under Green-Black - or whether, on the contrary, a renegade CDU voter was outraged by too many new wheel tracks in the country and eco-requirements for building houses.
Or was it about the corona measures?
Kretschmann only warned that the sovereign is a “moody diva” to wait for the election.
This is where you will find third-party content
In order to interact with or display content from third-party providers, we need your consent.
Activate external content
I consent to content from third parties being displayed to me.
This allows personal data to be transmitted to third-party providers.
This may require the storage of cookies on your device.
More information can be found here.
That was typical: On the one hand, Kretschmann is more open than almost any other politician and even frankly admits that he has disappointed long-term voters.
On the other hand, the 72-year-old is difficult to pin down or locate.
You step on the feet of so many people, he sighed, and the anecdote about the fire letter was turned in his favor again: After all, only someone who acts and marches can step on the toes of others.
display
Incidentally, the man who likes to think in "long lines" when governing and quotes Hannah Arendt also fended off the bitter attacks of his CDU challenger Susanne Eisenmann with this comment.
The minister of education had attacked Kretschmann again aggressively: The politics of the Baden-Württemberg Greens were arbitrary and ideologically, what they really stood for, largely unclear.
“Are they actually for genetic engineering or against it?
I have no idea! "When asked what Eisenmann would do better than Kretschmann, she said:" I would lead. "
Eisenmann will not be allowed to do that.
In the end, only a few in their own party stood behind the Minister of Education, who was reprimanded for her crisis management in the corona pandemic.
Long-time observers of state politics such as the Freiburg political scientist Ulrich Eith were unable to identify any mood of change or protest.
Failed: CDU top candidate Susanne Eisenmann
Source: dpa / Sebastian Gollnow
display
This begs the question of how clever it was from Eisenmann to tackle the popular Prime Minister so hard over the last few meters.
After all, the CDU wants, this is the announcement made by state party leader Thomas Strobl, with the same prime minister, who is criticized as weak in leadership, to continue to govern.
"You know me" - really?
His will to maintain the alliance of convenience, however, is not likely to have grown at the moment.
But even with a Prime Minister confirmed on the throne, voters do not know what to expect in the country.
His election slogan was: “You know me.” Angela Merkel (CDU) once used this message to advertise herself in a television duel before the federal election.
Kretschmann subtly aimed at the middle class, who wanted continuity, as so often the Green father flirted with his attitude as a conservative in the election campaign.
display
But would Kretschmann continue Grün-Schwarz or would he rather set up a traffic light?
Would he even set up a “lime” alone with the Liberals, if the numbers allowed it?
Kretschmann never let himself look at the cards.
This is where you will find third-party content
In order to interact with or display content from third-party providers, we need your consent.
Activate external content
I consent to content from third parties being displayed to me.
This allows personal data to be transmitted to third-party providers.
This may require the storage of cookies on your device.
More information can be found here.
It's not unusual.
“Exclusion” is frowned upon in election campaigns, clear coalition statements are the exception.
But the Greens have used such a clever division of roles in recent months that any position determination has become impossible.
The green state party leaders Sandra Detzer and Oliver Hildenbrand attacked the CDU, claiming that it was a "brake block" for green politics.
The Greens clearly wanted a coalition with the SPD.
The Prime Minister promptly stated that he had “governed well” alongside the Christian Democrats, and that cooperation was often easier than with the SPD.
In addition, one needs a “stable government” in times of crisis.
But observers had scarcely read from this that the head of government had a preference for a continuation of the green-black two-party alliance, said Kretschmann, "large coalitions", ie the union of the two strongest parties, also had disadvantages.
This is where you will find third-party content
In order to interact with or display content from third-party providers, we need your consent.
Activate external content
I consent to content from third parties being displayed to me.
This allows personal data to be transmitted to third-party providers.
This may require the storage of cookies on your device.
More information can be found here.
In the evening, Kretschmann emphasized that he understood the result as a mandate to continue serving the country as Prime Minister.
“I accept this assignment with gratitude and humility, and also with respect for those who did not choose me.
I assure you that I will think of the whole thing in everything we are negotiating, ”said Kretschmann.
“We need a reliable and stable government with a clear compass.
We will speak to all democratic parties with the necessary seriousness. "
The big question will now be what concessions those parties interested in government will make to the Greens in terms of climate protection.
The emergence of the new competition called the climate list shocked them in their self-assurance that they would be the new “Baden-Württemberg Party” for a long time to come.
The split was a clear signal that Kretschmann's pro-business course was leaving a gap to the left of the Greens.
The party quickly counteracted this and set strict climate targets in its election manifesto.
The green father sets the tone
The CDU, which will probably immediately assemble behind party leader Strobl, must now with all its might prevent ending up in the opposition.
The parliamentary group chairman will be elected on Monday afternoon.
Wolfgang Reinhart, who has led the parliamentary group since 2016, would like to continue.
The Green parliamentary group meets on Tuesday in the plenary hall of the state parliament.
Will the CDU of country chief Thomas Strobl remain in the government?
Only if Kretschmann allows her
Source: AFP / THOMAS KIENZLE
A CDU strategist warns his own party against hoping for a new edition of Grün-Schwarz: "If Kretschmann can bury the CDU, he will do that." Meanwhile, the green father has firmly promised the five years until the next election to stay in the State Chancellery - if there are no health reasons to the contrary.
This is where you will find third-party content
In order to interact with or display content from third-party providers, we need your consent.
Activate external content
I consent to content from third parties being displayed to me.
This allows personal data to be transmitted to third-party providers.
This may require the storage of cookies on your device.
More information can be found here.
display
But because that can never be ruled out, Kretschmann also mentioned the name of a potential successor for the first time: He brought parliamentary group leader Andreas Schwarz to the table.
Although he is still in his shadow, he could, for example, move up into the government as finance minister.
And warm up for the time after Kretschmann.
Then the Greens will be forced to reorient themselves.
The CDU is already facing this task.
This is where you will find third-party content
In order to interact with or display content from third-party providers, we need your consent.
Activate external content
I consent to content from third parties being displayed to me.
This allows personal data to be transmitted to third-party providers.
This may require the storage of cookies on your device.
More information can be found here.
This is where you will find third-party content
In order to interact with or display content from third-party providers, we need your consent.
Activate external content
I consent to content from third parties being displayed to me.
This allows personal data to be transmitted to third-party providers.
This may require the storage of cookies on your device.
More information can be found here.