After the CDU won the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein, the CDU wants to win the elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday. Since Laschet’s departure, Hendrik Wüst has been prime minister in the most populous federal state. In an interview with FOCUS Online, the CDU top candidate talks, among other things, about the chances of black and yellow and measures against price increases.
FOCUS Online: Mr Prime Minister, your counterpart Daniel Günther scored a smashing victory in Schleswig-Holstein, is it a through ball for the NRW elections next Sunday or is it more of a block in the leg because expectations are too high?
Wüst: Daniel Günther has achieved an extremely strong result with a clear government mandate for the CDU in the north. The result shows that the CDU people’s party is back. Good government work for more and secure jobs, a modern economy and more security in the country is rewarded by the people. So yes, there is a clear tailwind for us in North Rhine-Westphalia.
FOCUS Online: In the polls, the NRW-CDU is now just ahead of the SPD, that was different in autumn 2021, when you were eleven percentage points behind, what did you think caused the change in voter sentiment?
Wüst: Since I took office as Prime Minister almost 200 days ago, the NRW-CDU has caught up a lot, and we have made a head start from a double-digit deficit. Through good work on the content, we were able to bring many voters who had temporarily turned their backs on us back to the CDU. But polls remain polls: We will continue to fight to ensure that our party crosses the finish line with a lead as the strongest political force on Sunday evening and thus receives a clear government mandate.
FOCUS Online: And that despite the resignation of your environment minister, when her Mallorca vacation trip after the flood disaster became known, despite the controversial school policy in the Corona crisis and the blatant shortage of teachers?
Wüst: If mistakes are made or procedures are not designed appropriately for the task, you have to be self-critical and draw the necessary conclusions from them. And we did. See, for example, the development of a new model for civil protection, which was set up completely wrong by the previous red-green government. We are resolutely tackling the great challenges of our time. For example in education: We have hired 10,000 additional teachers since 2017. In the next election period, another 10,000 new teachers are to be added and all students are to be equipped with a digital device. In no other area have funds increased as much as in education. We have successfully advanced North Rhine-Westphalia. And continue to do so. In addition to crisis-proof jobs, this now also includes relieving people of the inflation-related price increases. There is still a lot to do.
FOCUS Online: However, the red-green opposition in the committee of inquiry into the flood disaster hit them hard, how did the NRW head of government perceive the behavior of the SPD parliamentarians when it came out that the daughter of the environment minister was to be spied on via Instagram?
Wüst: These incidents in the SPD sadden me as a politician and as a father. Apart from that, it has to be said that the task of the Flood Inquiry Committee is different. After all, it is about analyzing possible errors in order to introduce better civil protection nationwide for the future. This already commands respect for the 49 fatalities in North Rhine-Westphalia and their relatives. The fact that committees of inquiry are attempting to be used by the opposition for electoral tactics at the end of the electoral period is regrettable, but unfortunately part of it nowadays. That doesn’t help the people – and as a result, so my prognosis, neither does the SPD.
FOCUS Online: According to the forecasts, a traffic light coalition on the Rhine and Ruhr would also be possible, what if your yellow coalition partner switches to red-green?
Wüst: We have worked successfully and trustingly with the Liberals over the past five years. 400,000 new jobs alone have been created. We have objectively made our country safer. I would like to continue this good work for North Rhine-Westphalia after May 15th. The voters decide on Sunday. Each party promotes its content. And that is also our focus. I am open to discussing a government constellation with all democratic forces.
FOCUS-Online: It’s not enough for a black-yellow new edition, many in your party prefer a black-green coalition. Can Hendrik Wüst with the green top candidate Mona Neubaur?
Wüst: Yes. Irrespective of this, I encourage the continuation of our successful government work.
FOCUS Online: How much did the Russian invasion of Ukraine affect the election campaign?
Wüst: We live in turbulent times. Many worry about the future of themselves or others. What’s next? How can we ensure our energy supply and secure our jobs? I bring trade unions and business to one table to clarify precisely these questions. The results give hope. However, the federal government must now deliver when it comes to relieving the burden on people in the country. I am fighting for the traffic light coalition in Berlin to pull itself together and for pensioners to receive the full energy price allowance of 300 euros. Students and trainees who do not benefit from the lump sum according to the plans of the federal government must also be noticeably relieved of the constantly increasing costs for everyday things in life. North Rhine-Westphalia, the CDU and the FDP are campaigning for this together with an application in the Bundesrat.
The inflation rate in Germany is higher than it has been for 40 years. FOCUS Online therefore asks: your everyday life consists only of savings? You really have to spend every penny and are constantly looking for ways to make a living cheaper? We want to tell your story. Please write to us at mein-bericht@focus.de. Please briefly describe your situation to us in an e-mail and also tell us when we could contact you by phone in the next few days. Thanks very much!
FOCUS Online: Against the background of the Ukraine conflict, the price spiral in this country is going up – Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) brushes off proposals to suspend VAT on staple foods and fuel, how does the head of government of the industrialized country number 1 think about it?
Wüst: We are focusing on reducing value added tax, electricity and energy taxes across the board in order to provide lasting relief in these difficult times. This also relieves the burden on groceries. The commuter allowance has to go up – from the very first kilometer. Even people on low incomes still have to be able to afford to go to work. The federal government’s relief packages are only designed for short trips. In the meantime, however, with a view to the war in Ukraine, it must be clear to everyone that we need relief for a longer period of time.
FOCUS Online: The discussions about the open letter about Alice Schwarzer not to deliver weapons to Ukraine are not coming to an end, how do you feel about it?
Wüst: Arms deliveries are not an end in themselves. That is why Germany has deliberately held back in the past from supplying any crisis areas. This is about helping a country to defend itself. That is the right of every state and, as Europeans, in our very own interest. That is why it is right that Ukraine is getting the support it needs for its defence.
SPD bashing regarding the proximity to Russia is currently rampant, but there are also a number of examples of the fact that Union leaders have also often made a pilgrimage to the Kremlin ruler Waldimir Putin – especially when it comes to gas supplies, the CDU/CSU don’t have to be critical rework their Moscow role?
Wüst: Many actors in federal politics were wrong in believing that they could get along peacefully with the Kremlin regime. The crucial question, however, is whether the proximity to Russia in the past still prevents decision-makers from drawing the right conclusions today. The federal government’s hesitation and procrastination on the issue of arms deliveries met with complete incomprehension at home and abroad. I am grateful that, with the help of the Union, it has been possible for the Bundestag to take a clear position.
FOCUS Online: When it comes to climate policy, you are sticking to the coal phase-out in 2030, but want to keep coal-fired power plants as a reserve, how does that fit together?
Wüst: It is one of the greatest challenges of our society to reconcile our industry and good jobs with climate protection. Consequently, we want to phase out coal-fired power generation in 2030. Provided that the structural change in the affected regions progresses well and the security of the energy supply is guaranteed. On the way to 2030 we should act pragmatically and flexibly. This means that power plants that go offline remain in reserve. It’s about being able to maintain security of supply if the worst comes to the worst. It’s not an easy decision, but making it is one of the responsibilities of a leader in a developed country of 18 million people.
FOCUS Online: The shootout between Kurdish-Arab clans and rockers in Duisburg has again revealed security weaknesses for the citizens of the Rhine and Ruhr, what needs to change here?
Wüst: This case in particular shows us how important it is to show staying power in the fight against the clans and rockers in this country. Ever since Interior Minister Herbert Reul pursued a zero-tolerance strategy towards criminal clans, bikers and organized crime, political opponents have repeatedly scolded him. Then it was said that the problem was only being exaggerated. There was talk of xenophobic stigmatization. The opposite is the case. In many regions, the fight against clans and other organized criminal structures has achieved great success. Consequently, we want to expand video surveillance, especially in the metropolises, in order to be able to catch the perpetrators more quickly. While the previous red-green government denied the problem, we tackled it. The strength of the law applies again and not the law of the strongest.
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