The Neukölln SPD member of the Bundestag Hakan Demir has sharply criticized the possible appointment of the CDU politician Falko Liecke as State Secretary for Youth in Berlin. Demir accuses Liecke of “a lack of sensitivity and seriousness” for his office. Both politicians know each other from Neukölln, Liecke was a city councilor in the local district office for years.
The CDU politician caused a stir in 2022, among other things, because he wished the new leadership of the Greens “a happy Allahu Akbar” via Twitter. He later deleted the tweet and apologized. Demir now told the Tagesspiegel: “How should someone who is so polarized fight for the interests of all children and parents in our city?”
CDU leader Kai Wegner spoke of Berlin as a “city of diversity”, said Demir. “The CDU shows with this personnel that it is not serious about the open society.” The SPD members should include the personnel in their decision about a possible coalition with the CDU, he demanded.
Demir, a member of the Bundestag who was elected by direct mandate in Neukölln, is an opponent of a possible alliance with the CDU. 18,500 SPD members in Berlin can still vote on the possible coalition until April 21. The result will be announced on April 23rd. The quorum of 25 percent has already been reached. SPD party leader Franziska Giffey announced on Instagram that 5,000 SPD members had participated so far.
