A good two years ago, Ulrich Leiner had a clear goal. He wanted to become the first green mayor of the municipality of Haar and take a seat in the executive chair. That didn’t work out despite a respectable result. Now that the holidays are over, the 64-year-old is taking over the helm. He represents Andreas Bukowski (CSU), who is looking for relaxation. Even if he would certainly like to do it: He will not set any accents and will now push his heart’s desire to make the municipality climate-neutral. Rather, his job is to bridge the gap. “I go to City Hall every day, check documents and process typical orders.” This includes signing building permits. Because it’s vacation time, there are no big meetings or committees, says the Green, “nothing spectacular, but day-to-day business has to continue seamlessly”.
The situation is not entirely new to him. Leiner has represented his colleague several times in the past two years as second mayor, for example when he had to sit at home in corona quarantine. Leiner will only find out exactly what awaits him shortly before his departure, when the handover talks have ended.
Leiner was fascinated by politics early on. He took to the streets of Augsburg against nuclear power as early as the 1970s. Almost ten years later, at the legendary party conference in Karlsruhe, he was involved as a delegate in founding the Green Party. His slogan at the time “The technology of the future is green” is now more than ever the key to solving many future issues, he says. Our most important tasks are now the energy, agricultural and mobility transition, says Leiner. For almost 30 years he has been living with his partner in Haar, which for him is “the right place between urbanity and country love”. At the local political level, he is currently working on the expansion of the northern access to the Brenner Pass, which will affect Haar because of the many additional train movements.
Leiner was already committed to environmental protection in the 1980s.
(Photo: private)
At the headquarters of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, he coordinates research projects across Germany between the 76 institutes and the headquarters in Munich. He works closely with a research institute in Portugal. And when Corona is over, he looks forward to working with his colleagues there and the fresh fish in Porto. His inquiring mind helps him in politics. There are often “matches” between science and politics. Scientific findings, for example with a view to CO₂ neutrality, could often be translated into practical politics.
Does the agency want more? Since he turned 64 last week, he will be too old to run for mayor again in four years, according to the law. “I’m very relaxed and continue to do politics for hair,” says Leiner. At the age of 67, he can still run for chancellor, he says jokingly.