ZThree and a half months before the repeat elections in Berlin, the CDU gathered with great unity behind their party and parliamentary group leader, Kai Wegner. At a party conference on Saturday, the 50-year-old politician was elected the top candidate in an open vote with a large majority. Among the approximately 300 delegates there was no dissenting vote and only one abstention.
Previously, in a one-hour speech, Wegner made clear the CDU’s claim to be the strongest force in the February 12 election and to replace the red-green-red with Prime Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD). “And yes, I want to be Governing Mayor. Well, what else,” he said. The delegates then celebrated him for several minutes with strong applause.
Wegner said he wanted to end the “SPD system” and ensure a functioning city as head of government. The SPD has been in government for 33 years without interruption and has been the governing mayor for 21 years. “The comrades believe they own Berlin,” said Wegner. “That must and will change.” The CDU wanted “a clear government mandate from the people of Berlin”.
Administration, education, transport policy
Wegner promised that the CDU would tackle the problems and make administrative reform and digitization a top priority. “We will make sure that Berlin works again.” The goal shouldn’t just be that people get an appointment at the Citizens’ Registration Office within 14 days. “The service has to be provided within 14 days,” says Wegner.
Prime Minister Giffey accused Wegner of caring more about her Instagram account than about sensible politics for her city. The Greens also got their fat off: Wegner said he was surprised at their demand for administrative reform and an “update” for Berlin. “Yes, who has governed for six years?” Especially when it comes to modernizing the administration, the Greens have “made a slim foot”.
With Wegner, the CDU lost the 2021 election
In the election on September 26, 2021, the CDU and its top candidate Wegner came third behind the SPD and the Greens. He recently named both parties alongside the FDP as potential candidates for a coalition with the CDU. His party will not cooperate with the Left and AfD. Most recently, the CDU in Berlin provided a governing mayor, Eberhard Diepgen, who served for more than 15 years, with one interruption, until 2001.
Wegner named good education with the reintroduction of a preschool and more security in the city as other priorities in the election campaign. “With me, there will be no oases of well-being for clan criminals.” A transport policy is also needed in which, in addition to well-developed local public transport, cars also have their place. “We won’t let the car be banned in Berlin either.”