East Germans in the cabinet: Kretschmer demands a real voice for the region!

East Germans in the cabinet: Kretschmer demands a real voice for the region!

The Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer is calling for significantly more say for East German politicians in the upcoming federal government. In a recently conducted discussion, Kretschmer emphasized that the East German population must also be appropriately represented in the new black and red coalition. This is particularly important in view of the current political situation and the upcoming government formation, in which the CDU, CSU and SPD are in negotiations. As a member of the core negotiation team, Kretschmer sees the need to focus on the specific concerns of the new federal states.

Kretschmer, who described the upcoming state elections in September as "fate elections", emphasized the importance of an appropriate representation of the Eastern countries in the federal government. Above all, he praises the work of Carsten Schneider, the East Commissioner of the SPD, and Minister of Construction Klara Geywitz, whom he appreciates as "the smartest woman in the cabinet". Kretschmer is of the opinion that Geywitz 'professionalism can be of great benefit in the next legislative period. He also expresses the desire that the future Chancellor Friedrich Merz will have to decide whether there will continue to

political demands and challenges

Kretschmer calls for a proportional illustration of the East German population within the federal government. He wants an active role for East German ministers and suggests driving the expansion of medical and scientific infrastructure in the east to reduce the emigration of young people. The expansion of the transport infrastructure, in particular the express train connections, is also on its agenda.

Another important aspect in Kretschmer's political considerations is how to deal with the AfD in the Bundestag. He warns against lending this party a kind of martyr status and emphasizes the need to tackle central problems such as migration and economic policy. The AfD has gained influence in the last elections and is perceived as the strongest force in Thuringia, which Kretschmer sees as a challenge for the traditional party landscape. He also speaks for a drastic reduction in the federal government and supports the reduction of agents.

The context of the elections

The elections in September are in the shade of a heated political situation. The public's attention turned away in the federal government after breaking the traffic light coalition. In Saxony, the Union and the SPD have negotiated a coalition agreement that stored the focus on freedom for companies, education, climate protection and the limitation of irregular migration, but with only 51 votes requires a majority of 61.

In Thuringia, the CDU, the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and the SPD have also drawn up a coalition agreement in which a diplomatic peace in Europe is sought with regard to the Ukraine War. In this context, Mario Voigt (CDU), who runs for the Prime Ministers, could only achieve 44 out of 88 votes, which underlines uncertainty in the negotiations. In Brandenburg, a 67-page coalition agreement was decided between the SPD and the BSW, which includes additional police positions, but takes a back seat in favor of other topics.

Frank Richter, a former civil rights activist and theologian, expresses skepticism towards quotas for East German politicians in this context. He points out that the tasks of a Federal Minister should take into account the needs of the entire Republic without emphasizing a region as a problem area. Nevertheless, he believes that regional perspectives are crucial in order not to lose sight of the concerns and challenges of East German citizens in the upcoming legislative period.

The upcoming decisions and future government formation will show whether Kretschmer's appeal is heard and whether the interests of the East Germans are sufficiently taken into account in the new federal government.