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Between Feel-Good Rhetoric and Real Problems - Haseloff (CDU) 2021 and the Bitter Present in Saxony-AnhaltOn 16 September 2021, Minister President Dr. Reiner Haseloff seized the opportunity of a topical debate in the state parliament to rhetorically legitimise his new coalition. His appearance served less to address the actual problems of the state and more as a staging: optimism, positive narratives, and clichéd references to the coalition agreement dominated. Five years later, it is clear: The policy that Haseloff defended back then is part of the problems burdening Saxony-Anhalt today. The motion by the DIE LINKE parliamentary group in 2021 called for social security instead of a downward spiral agenda, genuine management of the Corona consequences, sustainable structural policy, the abolition of precarious employment conditions, and decisive implementation of the energy transition – all points that Haseloff rather evasively addressed in his speech. Follow-up questions from MPs such as Sebastian Striegel (Greens) and Cornelia Lüddemann already highlighted the pressing issues at the time: How do people actually benefit from the energy transition? How are young people represented and involved in political decisions? 1. Social Policy Problems: Low Wages, Child and Old-Age PovertyIn 2021, Haseloff praised the “stability” and the “positive development” of the state. Reality tells a different story:
These problems are not a natural phenomenon but are politically co-caused. Lack of wage and labour market policy, inadequate social security, and delayed investments have exacerbated the situation. Haseloff’s optimism, in light of this reality, comes across as rhetoric without substance. 2. Energy Transition: Profits for the Few, Burden for the ManySebastian Striegel asked at the time: “How will you ensure that people in Saxony-Anhalt actually benefit from the energy transition?”Haseloff’s response was vague: Technological options (hydrogen, synthetic fuels) were mentioned, but concrete measures were lacking. Today it is evident:
Haseloff’s rhetorical response at the time reveals itself today as a political vacuum that burdens the people of Saxony-Anhalt instead of relieving them. 3. Industry and Chemicals: Downward Trend and Structural ProblemsA central problem that Haseloff could not solve is deindustrialisation:
So far, the state government has not presented any effective industrial policy to halt the structural loss. Haseloff’s “stability” proclaimed at the time was illusory; industry is shrinking, and key sectors are acutely threatened. 4. Young Generation and ParticipationIn 2021, Cornelia Lüddemann criticised the under-representation of young people:
Here, too, it becomes clear: Politics creates problems that the population itself is supposed to bear, without genuine participation. 5. Conclusion: Reality Instead of RhetoricFive years after Haseloff’s speech, it is clear:
Haseloff’s speech was a staging of optimism and stability that blanked out or obscured real problems. Today it is evident: The policy has co-caused, delayed, and in parts exacerbated these problems. A real solution would require decisive action, social safeguards, and industrial policy measures – instead of rhetorical placations. The Transcript of the Speeches from 16.09.2021Dr. Reiner Haseloff (Minister President): Mr President! Honourable Members! Ladies and gentlemen! In cabinet, but also beforehand when we saw the agenda, we considered to what extent we should delve deeper into a topical debate on a day like this, when the government has just been formed – especially since, as I already said in my opening remarks, we will successively deliver a government statement from the ministries through me as Minister President in October, in which ultimately all ministries are covered, and in particular where I will explicitly refer to the new coalition agreement once again. I still want to pick up on a few keywords, because this topical debate was scheduled at a time when the federal election campaign is underway in Germany. It is understandable that everyone is once again trying to make their positions clear through whatever messages, that differences arising in a party democracy are made visible to voters. It is legitimate if this is done within a political culture. Nevertheless, I do not want to let some things stand; because I am standing here not as an election campaigner, but as Minister President with a cabinet to the left and right of me, as far as my colleagues are concerned, to get what we want to develop going positively on the basis of the coalition agreement. First: This government is no cuddly government and this coalition is no cuddly coalition. We don’t need that at all, but we know what our programmatic origins and programmatic basis are, where we consciously differ. I would also like to refer once again to the election result, which was surveyed on election day itself: which coalition would people in Saxony-Anhalt most like to see. One doesn’t have to be completely poll-obsessed. But one fact is: The Germany coalition that has now emerged was quite clearly at the top of the list of possibilities that presented themselves. I must also say once again, dear Ms von Angern, when you speak of “alternatives”: The voters did not choose exactly the alternatives you mentioned and did not let them come to fruition. I make no reproach to the citizens; because due to the very broad age structure, they have certainly gathered experiences in which they were personally confronted with these alternatives, and which still confront us today in many, many problem areas, which is why we will be dealing with them throughout the entire century. But that is precisely why we stepped up. I also want to spread optimism at this point, because there is one thing I don’t like. You can continue to associate Saxony-Anhalt with “siding” and all sorts of other keywords. One can do that. I love my home state. I was born here and I would also like to be buried here – someday, as late as possible. I will work on that so that I can continue to be available to you as a sparring partner for a very, very long time. But one thing is a fact in this whole story: We – especially in the last five years of the Kenya coalition; I say that just as openly to the former coalition partners – have together made very significant progress. We will continue this path with the coalition agreement – equipped with new emphases, with a new partner and with a new programme that also enables interesting constellations – and move Saxony-Anhalt forward. I could now present many statistics to you; Mr Willingmann and other colleagues in parliament have often done so. One can hardly avoid statistics. I will spare us that here. I only want to point out: We have taken a good development. If you assume or say that citizens constantly have the feeling or interpret certain things as if there is no stability in this state, then I can only say: Take a look at Thuringia. Take a look at other federal states and then look at what we have achieved here – even in difficult times – and how the voters’ vote turned out on 6 June 2021. You don’t seriously think that after ten years of my tenure and 20 years of my presence in Magdeburg in the state government, people don’t know exactly why they cast certain votes. Rather, people do have confidence. Certainly not all of them, but a large number. I take that very, very seriously. I must say: For me, it is always a moral challenge to declare the problems of our citizens as part of daily business every day anew – regardless of the fact that we have to drive the big lines and that we must sensibly manage the major problem areas – starting with climate, the energy transition in general, etc. – with this new coalition. Finally, I would like to use the opportunity to speak once again to say that we are not only experiencing a new departure here. Because every chapter, every legislative period enables this departure. The public presentation and reflection of the evaluation of our coalition agreement are predominantly quite positive. But one thing is clear: As politicians, we must also give people courage when it comes to not always talking only about problems, but about tasks and challenges. If we always only say, you can now choose between – I’ll give this example because it fits right now – 2G and 3G, or you do what’s best for you, then one doesn’t have to immediately say that it’s a problem, that it’s very problematic. Or what about the wolf? Should it be culled or not? How do we cull it, etc.? – People, these are things in life that are so differentiated that we will never have an ideal solution. There is never black and white. But we are intellectually and practically capable of solving such problems. These are exemplary examples because they have also played a role in the media in recent days. I could go through it like that now. In this respect, you can also look forward to the government statement in October and the corresponding statements by the individual cabinet colleagues. We will demonstrate and show what we intend to implement. That will be the overall package, so to speak. Also in the last legislative period, Mr Robra always kept very good records of what we implemented from the coalition agreement at the time. I have to say: No gap has remained. We do this very meticulously because we want to keep our word. But one thing is also important here: Of course we know where the framework conditions set limits for us too. We know that everything we newly set out to do must be financially underpinned. That is why we have not worked with major subjunctives in the coalition agreement, but have made decisions: Either we do it or we don’t. We have not issued examination orders, so to speak, but have said: We tackle this, we don’t tackle that. We keep certain things in mind. If everything goes well, if economic growth picks up again, if we have overcome the pandemic, if we have further advanced the revitalisation of the economy after its worldwide slump in the last one and a half years, then we can also discuss other things. But we know that every coalition agreement contains a financing proviso and that we must handle very carefully the generations who want to shape politics after us. Especially at my age, I say that. Because in my own family there are enough people who point out to me every day: What you are doing must also be accountable one day; I too would like to shape things one day when I take on responsibility at municipal, state, or any other level. My young grandchildren tell me that. I am glad they have written that in my family register. I have also adhered to that. So you can continue to concentrate on your tasks as well. There will be good cooperation in this cabinet and in this parliament. Let us optimistically move the state of Saxony-Anhalt further forward. Today is exactly the right day for that. We are opening up the possibilities with a new start that our citizens feel as potential within themselves and that we want to develop together. We should expect that of ourselves in a positive sense. Therefore: All the best! Keep your fingers crossed for us that everything goes well and that there are no more external impacts like the pandemic. We have just seen it in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia: You can write coalition agreements however you want – suddenly you are faced with huge disasters. Last Friday we passed a special fund of more than 30 billion euros in the Bundestag – and that may not even be the limit. We know what else we have to do. That is why we have also provided for the special fund for revitalisation and ultimately to cushion the slumps we had, so that normal social life can continue and social standards are not dismantled. What we can additionally afford, we will see. As I said: I am optimistic. Let us do it together. I would like to invite us all to do so. – Heartfelt thanks and all the best. Vice President Wulf Gallert: Mr Minister President, you are too fast. I ask you once again to come to the speaker’s lectern. There are two questions. – Mr Tullner, do you have one too? (Marco Tullner, CDU: No, no!) – Alright then, not. – Both questions come from your former coalition partner. The first is from Mr Striegel. – Mr Striegel, you have the floor. Please remember, you have two minutes. Sebastian Striegel (Greens): Many heartfelt thanks. – Mr Minister President, I don’t want to get involved in the dispute between you and Ms von Angern about how harmonious this coalition is. That will surely become apparent. I would like to ask you a question with regard to the central future issue: the climate crisis. (Shout: Oh! That’s not a future issue!) It’s about the question of how this coalition intends to confront this crisis. We have read the coalition agreement. We noticed: No binding measures can be found in it. I had hoped – you addressed the issue. You also mentioned your grandchildren, for whom this is a life-determining issue. What concrete binding steps do you plan as Minister President to combat the climate crisis? How will you manage to take the people of Saxony-Anhalt along on the energy transition issue and ensure that people in Saxony-Anhalt actually benefit from this energy transition? The former Minister Ms Dalbert – no longer in office as of today – proposed an outer area levy at the time. What is your stance, for example, on such an instrument? Dr. Reiner Haseloff (Minister President): On the first aspect, just this much: The climate issue runs – it was already an issue in the presentation of the coalition agreement – through the entire coalition agreement. It plays a role in as many places as never before in a previous coalition agreement. (Shout: Exactly! – Agreement) Because we know it is an existential issue. On the second point that needs to be said. We know about the things achieved so far. This also includes the fact that we are well ahead in terms of renewable energies, that we are ahead of the south – I don’t want to get more specific now; you know what I mean. My colleague Kretschmann is a regular interlocutor. I will continue to give him tips on how we deal with the expansion of wind energy, because he has much, much more to do with citizens’ initiatives than we do. Because we see it gradually linked with planning bases, (Shout from Cornelia Lüddemann, Greens) so that the rural area is ultimately also involved in these processes. In this coalition agreement, for the first time we have anchored an immediate goal regarding the reduction of CO2 quantities. By the way – if you look at total emissions – that’s quite a chunk we have set ourselves for the next five years. This does not happen automatically. A whole series of measures are necessary that are important and that we will tackle. But one thing is clear: If we do not want to lose acceptance in the population – in general and also with us – regarding expansion, repowering and all the things we know sufficiently from the last legislative period, then it must succeed in making it clear to people that what has been legally agreed also remains reliable. If we have a law on coal phase-out with all the trimmings, then that means – regardless of which market mechanisms run in parallel, for example certificate trading etc.; all these are consciously implemented instruments that the European Union also uses – that one must also make clear – I was in Hohenmölsen again just yesterday – that what was broadly passed in the Bundestag and Bundesrat a few months ago holds. Who is supposed to trust us at all if we already question what is to be substituted there in the coming years and have not even created a replacement job? Another point in this context is that we know – which is why we consciously wrote this into the coalition agreement – that we must not rely only on a politically prescribed technology. It is wrong to rely only on electromobility. Yes, we must rely on electromobility. But what is technically possible must be done by the companies or the developers. What is ecologically sensible is clear: The climate targets must be achieved. How we achieve them – whether with synthetic fuel or with hydrogen, with green hydrogen that can be produced long-term here because we have sufficient green energy, and all these stories – is still open. That is an issue that can ultimately be found in our coalition agreement and for which we give the guarantee that this coalition agreement helps to meet the climate targets. I know the times are limited, but when you open such fundamental discussions and want to anticipate the discussion in the framework of the government statement, you unfortunately have to live with that. Or I don’t answer and would refer to the government statement, in which I will point out what we have all set in motion. Vice President Wulf Gallert: Your time is not limited as a representative of the government at least within this legislative period, and the questioner must live with the consequence that he then has to listen that long. Next, Ms Lüddemann will speak. She has a question. – Please, Ms Lüddemann. Cornelia Lüddemann (Greens): Mr Minister President, you mentioned in your statement that you take the votes of the voters very seriously. If I look at the population pyramid in the Federal Republic in general and in Saxony-Anhalt in particular, it is very clear that precisely the generation that will suffer most from the consequences of your coalition agreement in concrete terms and of politics in the Federal Republic in general is the least represented. Those under 30 have just 14% of the votes – that has just been counted for the Bundestag election – and in Saxony-Anhalt it is even fewer. What do you say to these young people when they look at your coalition agreement and realise that you are doing nothing for the climate, i.e. to protect their natural livelihoods, but also that you are doing nothing – this is now my concrete point – to involve young people more strongly in the political process, i.e. nothing with regard to lowering the voting age and nothing to strengthen participation rights for young people? – That was a key point in Ms von Angern’s statements. Vice President Wulf Gallert: You may answer. Dr. Reiner Haseloff (Minister President): I’ll keep it short because certain things resolve themselves. Everything we have written down was broadly developed from the parties, for example by working groups. On our side, as far as the CDU is concerned, very, very many young people were involved. There has never been such a high participation of the Young Union in formulating these things. A Young Union, by the way, that in Saxony-Anhalt – I can name this from my own family – is so ecologically oriented – I have respect for that – that it can act as a pioneer compared to some green lifestyles. This goes as far as meat consumption etc. You have to dissolve your old enemy image. What does it actually mean to commit oneself politically – in quotation marks – conservatively? – It means preservation of creation. That means ecology in particular. But the foundations must also be created together with the economy so that the whole thing remains affordable. This common ground must be successfully implemented so that democracy remains stable and no imbalances arise. As I said, I don’t have to justify myself for that. I find this coalition agreement very, very ambitious, especially with regard to these things. The young people have written a lot into it for us, including those from the other two parties. That must also be said clearly. The municipal side was involved. Demographic issues, issues of young people and long-term sustainable issues played a very, very strong role. I can only say: Read it best two or three times a day. Perhaps it will even be possible – I am quite sure of that; we know each other, Ms Lüddemann – that we will get your votes for many projects we tackle; you will be so satisfied with us. Author: AI-Translation - АИИ | |
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