Withdrawal from the Bundestag
“That’s very cool of you”: Politicians from various parties express their respect for Altmaier and AKK
Peter Altmaier (left) and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer announce their withdrawal from the Bundestag
© Katja Sponholz / DPA
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Peter Altmaier are giving up their parliamentary mandates and are giving way to younger CDU colleagues. This forces respect from many politicians – across party lines.
Two high-profile CDU politicians will be absent from the next Bundestag: 59-year-old Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and 63-year-old Peter Altmaier have announced that they will be renouncing their mandate. Both want to make room for younger parliamentarians. It is important to bring about a generation change now, stressed Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier. “Renewal is possible, you just have to want it,” he added.
The incumbent Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer said it was not enough just to say that the country and the party were more important than one’s own political career. Now is a situation “where you have to do it”. Both earned respect for their decision across party lines.
Appreciation for Peter Altmaier and AKK from all political groups
CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak wrote on Twitter that Altmaier and Kramp-Karrenbauer were “a role model for the young generation” with their work and their attitude. Expressions of respect also came from the previous coalition partner, the SPD. The social democratic European Minister of State Michael Roth tweeted: “This is really big.” The Berlin SPD politician Sawsan Chebli expressed her “greatest respect” to Altmaier: “There aren’t that many who can do that.” At the same time, she thanked Kramp-Karrenbauer for her work. Green parliamentary group leader Katrin Göring-Eckardt called above all the behavior of Kramp-Karrenbauer “style-forming”.
Johannes Vogel, deputy chairman of the FDP, also expressed “great respect” for Altmaier’s decision. There were also appreciative reactions from the Greens. Simone Peter, former leader of the party, wrote: “Others can learn a thing or two about it.” Katharina Fegebank, Green Party politician and second mayor in Hamburg, tweeted to Altmaier and AKK: “You have to do that first, you show greatness.” And Altmaier even received a heart from the green member of the Bundestag Konstantin von Notz.
Even beyond politics, Altmaier and Kramp-Karrenbauer’s withdrawal drew a lot of respect. Climate activist Luisa Neubauer praised the economics minister, who is often criticized by her: “That’s very cool of you.” Former Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser wrote: “This is a gesture that will be remembered. And a message that should be heard and taken to heart. That there are exactly two top politicians who were the most humanly of the Union is remarkable. “
Altmaier and Kramp-Karrenbauer had lost direct mandates
Peter Altmaier takes his hat after 27 years in the Bundestag. Under Angela Merkel, he worked as head of the Chancellery as well as Federal Environment Minister and, since 2018, Economics Minister. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer moved into the Bundestag for the first time in 1998, but moved to the Saarland parliament a year later. From 2011 to 2018 she was Prime Minister of the Saarland. She has been Federal Minister of Defense since 2019.
Altmaier and Kramp-Karrenbauer had both lost the direct mandate in their constituencies in the most recent federal election, but entered the Bundestag via the Saarland state list. There, the Saarland party friends Nadine Schön and Markus Uhl will take their places. Both had lost their seats as a result of the CDU’s election debacle. Altmaier and Kramp-Karrenbauer keep their ministerial offices until a new federal government is formed.
Sources: Peter Altmaier on Twitter / Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Twitter / DPA