Brandenburg’s CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann (42) announced his candidacy for party chairmanship Photo: Michael Sauerbier
By Michael Sauerbier
Jan Redmann (42) leaves nothing to chance. Just a day and a half after Brandenburg’s CDU leader Michael Stübgen (63) resigned, the parliamentary group leader declared his candidacy for the post – and for the office of prime minister.
“I grew up in Brandenburg. And I want this country to grow,” said Redmann. According to the latest government survey, the 2.5 million inhabitants are mostly dissatisfied. With the economic situation – and the Potsdam government, which also includes the CDU.
Still party leader Stübgen has not managed to lead the conservatives out of the 17 percent low in three years. According to the INSA survey, Brandenburg’s right-wing extremist AfD (25%) and the long-term governing party SPD (22%) are far ahead of the CDU.
Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (63) vacates the CDU presidency in March Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
Redmann’s plan: A balancing act between social, economic and security policy: He promises families free daycare places and good educational opportunities, industrial companies local eco-energy. Wind power has long been cheaper than coal power.
The lawyer wants to better protect Internet users against hackers. With higher penalties and more surveillance. Up to the secret cell phone and computer search. A nightmare for privacy advocates. Redmann counters, “Data protection is often protection against perpetrators.”
Sometimes conservative, sometimes social – the agile lawyer with a doctorate makes it right for all CDU wings. The 5,500 party members can vote on the new chairman by the end of March. Redmann has no competitors yet.