Hesse election campaign with a safety net: what Nancy Faeser is doing is a cheek

Germany

There have been rumors since she took office: Nancy Faeser (SPD) is coming state election back to Hesse. The office of interior minister would have to be filled halfway through the legislature, it was said as early as 2021. Well, now Faeser is getting serious. She really wants the top candidate of the Hessian SPD being. Should she do it, that’s not a problem in principle. How she imagined that exactly is a cheek.

Because Faeser doesn’t just want to settle down in Hesse. No, the social democrat wants to play it safe. Instead of focusing entirely on the state election campaign, she wants to remain interior minister.

One might think that both the fight for the CDU-dominated state and the tasks of the Ministry of the Interior need undivided attention.
But maybe Faeser is in possession of a magical time-turner. One like Hermione Granger used in the third part of Harry Potter.

Unfortunately, in the real world, it’s not possible to be in two places at the same time. And so it is more than questionable how exactly Faeser wants to do it. At least neither of the two tasks can be fulfilled half-heartedly. Hesse deserves better – and Germany too.

Since the turn of the millennium, Hessen has been CDU reigns. Sometimes with the FDP, sometimes with the Greens – currently, for example – never with the SPD. The social democrats are obviously not really popular in the country in the heart of the republic. If the red top candidate now decides to compete with a double bottom and safety net, the Hess:innen should not like it.

As Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser is responsible for internal security.Photo: imago images/ political moments

How did they sing? chainsmokers: “If we go down, then we go down together.” That should also be the motto of a top candidate for the election campaign. If the Hessian SPD goes under, then together. A principle that the rest of the Social Democrats in Hesse should also demand.

What is clear: Defeating the CDU will be difficult in the deep black and largely agricultural state. Even more difficult if the challenger is driving with the handbrake on. After all, nothing can happen to her if she fails to take over the state chancellery.

Faeser will not sit on the opposition bench in the Wiesbaden state parliament. No, the federal politician will drive back to Berlin very comfortably and make herself comfortable in her soft armchair in the Ministry of the Interior. A candidacy in a cotton ball.

And not only for the Hess:innen that should be a no-go. This coup also casts a bad light on the federal SPD.

On the one hand, the question can be asked: Does Hessen matter that much? Doesn’t the SPD want a majority in the Bundesrat, which is formed by representatives of the state governments? Do the Social Democrats think it’s good that laws requiring approval there are being watered down beyond recognition by the CDU-led countries? The power of the federal states could be clearly observed in the legislative process of citizen income.

After his trip to South America, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is directly confronted with the next drama in the cabinet.Image: dpa / Kay Nietfeld

Another assumption that comes to mind: Does the SPD have too few suitable staff? Of course, Faeser is known and loved. She does her job well as Minister of the Interior, and people in Hesse also know and appreciate her. But isn’t there a possible successor who could take over Faeser’s post as interior minister?

One thing is clear: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) cannot afford to replace more women with men. Not after he broke with the principle of parity by naming Boris Pistorius as Lambrecht’s successor. At least not without antagonizing the Greens.

The SPD and Faeser would be well advised to decide. Hesse or Ministry of the Interior. Faeser or someone else. Yes or no. A Jain is in the politics not a good option. And neither does an election campaign with bubble wrap.