2024-09-09 10:00:36
In his election campaign, Dietmar Woidke is relying primarily on the fact that voters have known him as Prime Minister for eleven years. His popularity is high – which is why he cannot use an unpopular Chancellor at his side.
“Emotional blackmail of voters” – that is what Dietmar Woidke (SPD) from the Left Party in Brandenburg is accused of in an interview with rbb. The incumbent Prime Minister of Brandenburg has announced that he will vacate his post if his SPD does not receive the most votes in the upcoming state election. “My goal is to win against the AfD – and if I lose against the AfD, I’m gone. I will not negotiate with anyone if I end up in second or third place,” Woidke told the dpa news agency.
This is not an unrealistic scenario. After all, according to polls, the Social Democrats are behind the AfD. But by announcing a possible withdrawal, Woidke has given the party a chance to catch up. His popularity ratings are high. With an eleven-year term in office, he is also one of the longest-serving heads of government in Germany. This is why the SPD is relying on personalization in the election campaign. “The people of Brandenburg know me – and that is an important asset for the election campaign,” said Woidke.
Some in the SPD hope that the election results in Saxony and Thuringia could influence the people of Brandenburg. The complicated majorities that have emerged as a result of the electoral successes of BSW and AfD could make voters in Brandenburg play it safe.
Profession: Prime Minister Brandenburg
Birthday: 22. October 1961
Place of birth: Naundorf near Forst (Brandenburg)
Marital status: married, one child
Vocational training: Diplomatic Engineer
“This time it’s about everything. Economic development, social security, social cohesion – and for that we need political stability,” said Woidke in an interview with the magazine “Stern”. And Woidke stands for this stability not only politically, but also economically.
Under his government, Brandenburg achieved strong economic growth compared to the nationwide trend. In the first half of 2023, companies increased their GDP by six percent – more than in any other federal state. The Tesla plant in Grünheide and its suppliers are responsible for this, among other things.
But Woidke also stands for a course that distances himself from the traffic light government. He described the ongoing dispute between the coalition partners as “undermining democracy” and called the heating law a “communications disaster”. The increase in the citizen’s allowance was too high for him, and he also wants to stick to the coal phase-out in 2038 and not bring it forward to 2030 like the Greens at federal and state level. “The way this is being discussed is all very naive,” said Woidke.
But Woidke makes no secret of his dislike of the AfD. He even declares that fighting it is his main election resolution: “To prevent our proud Brandenburg flag from getting big brown stains, that, ladies and gentlemen, is my most important goal.” He does not describe the AfD as an alternative, but as a downfall for Brandenburg and the whole of Germany. Woidke says that it cannot work without “people from abroad” and advocates “cosmopolitanism and tolerance”. He has underlined this with several visits to demonstrations against right-wing extremism.
The SPD is going into the election campaign with the themes of economy, community and security. In concrete terms, this means that the establishment of industrial companies will be promoted and climate-neutral conversion will be supported. In addition, the number of 250,000 people who work at minimum wage level will be reduced.
Woidke’s party has declared the goal of completely free education. To achieve this, among other things, all remaining parental contributions for crèches and daycare centers will be abolished. In addition, a university medical center is to be built in Cottbus, which the state will support with over one hundred million euros annually.
The SPD is committed to ensuring that the people of Brandenburg benefit financially from the high level of wind energy production in their region by reducing the high grid fees. In addition, companies should be able to conclude direct contracts with wind or solar parks in order to obtain cheaper electricity.