According to an MDR article some CDU and FDP members publicly debate whether or not the next Minister for the "Aufbau Ost" really needs to be an East German, or if the job could be done by a West German as well. It appears that many of the (east German) CDU members (Vaatz, Milbradt), but also Georg Milbradt, Saxony's prime minister and FDP member Cornelia Pieper don't seem to think this would be necessary. The key quote comes from former prime minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Christoph Bergner saying that if we had an East German chancellor, we don't need an East quota anymore.
I am concerned. No, I don't think it necessarily needs to be an East German holding that specific ministry post. What concerns me is, that this is the ONLY cabinet post currently occupied by an East German. Would Merkel be the ONLY East German in the next cabinet?
The number of cabinet posts held by East Germans has gone down over the years. While the first post-unification cabinet had 4 East German ministers, the current one has one - the one for Aufbau Ost, traffic and construction, occupied by Manfred Stolpe.
But also in other areas of the political elite, representation of East Germans is low. The number of East Germans chairing committees in the Bundestag is currently at an all time low. Only two East Germans, both FDP members, chair committees. Neither one of the two (Guttmacher and Pieper) held the post from the beginning of the current legislative period. Guttmacher got the chair position for the Petitions committe last year, two years into the legislative period. Pieper needed to trade in her post as general secreatary of the FDP in order to become chair of the Education committee in January of this year. (I doubt, that this expertise will land her in a possible CDU-FDP coalition the job as education minister, as her ideas on education policy go strongly against the FDP party line).
Another major concern I would have with Merkel being the only East German in a CDU-FDP cabinett, is that she would continue to shape the image of East Germans as competent politicians. Stolpe's popularity has declined over the years of him being minister for the Aufbau Ost. He is largely considered incompetent. And there are media reports suggesting that the only reason why he hasn't been replaced yet is that he is the ONLY East German in the cabinett.
Merkel would be shaping the image of East Germans as politicians and leaders as well. I doubt however, she has the key to solve the problems Germany is having. If she fails - will this block East Germans from getting top positions in the "nearer future" (2009, 2013)?
Many voters already seem to have concerns about Merkel's possible candidacy. Hearing reports from friends, I understand that one of the reasons not to vote for Merkel is that she is East German.
BTW, while I am disappointed that the above mentioned members of the CDU and FDP think the East German quota is fulfilled if Merkel becomes chancellor, I am not too surprised: it appears, that members of the CDU tend to identify more as Germans than as East Germans than their peers from the SPD or even the PDS.
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I think the one thing that Merkel has to her benefit IS the fact that she comes from the East. She has said before that since 1989, she has grown very accustomed to change; and welcomes it. "Change" is precisely what I believe Germany needs right now. The western political elite are MUCH more fearful of this than Angela Merkel must be.
The million dollar question is - Can she lead Germany to where it needs to go, despite the fact that many of the entitled electorate will not agree with this? This is what true leadership is about. It is not always catering to the majority because of course even the majority needs leadership. This is why we elect leaders, and don't use true democracies.
I think the one thing that Merkel has to her benefit IS the fact that she comes from the East.
The fact that she is East German doesn't bother me about her. I agree, this can be advantage. However, this would be an advantage for every East German member of Parliament regardless of party membership. East Germans are accustomed to change much more than Westerners, they are more flexible, they are more open to practical solutions. So that is not the problem for me personally.
I just tend to disagree with the policies she and her party propose, especially as some seem to be steps back instead of forward. But that will be surely an issue in the next weeks in this blog anyways.
The western political elite are MUCH more fearful of this than Angela Merkel must be
Not just the western political elite. Schroeder has failed because his sometimes drastic reforms have not been welcomed with voters.
Schroeder was the first to implement structural reforms, not just incremental steps. His reforms are unpopular with voters. Which is why they started to vote for alternative parties in state elections.
The million dollar question is - Can she lead Germany to where it needs to go, despite the fact that many of the entitled electorate will not agree with this?
The question starts in her party. Will she be just the face of the party, but policy is suggested by others, or will she inspire policy change. I am sceptical she is able to convince her party of some drastic changes, if health care reform plans and the intra-party struggle between CDU and CSU is any indication, she will have her handsful.
Another thing taken into consideration is the case of Cornelia Pieper from the FDP. As I wrote about her, I doubt she'd be the next education minister in case the CDU has a coalition with the FDP. Why? She tends to argue for radical change in education - a more centralized education system. Just like in the GDR. Just like in countries like Finland (who performs well educationally). This idea goes strongly against the established idea of fragmented education policy dominant in the FDP. Why did the FDP decide on her for the education committee then? They wanted to give her an alternative to another high-level position she had where she wasn't wanted anymore. After the resignation of the predecessor, this was free. Might come to bite the FDP in the arse in the end if education policy arises as an issue for the campaign (which it could be).
All in all, I have not seen any true reform concept out of the CDU so far. I doubt they have some. All I heard are concepts where they are either changing back SPD implemented policies, or where they are trying to work within the exisiting framework. Just like a typical "conservative" party - keeping up the status quo... .
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