The CDU has a general from the West again. Can Carsten Linnemann still be a “Voice of the East”? The East German CDU associations agree on this – and have clear demands.
The CDU in East Germany considers the change in the post of General Secretary from East German Mario Cjaza to West German Carsten Linnemann to be a good decision. That has a survey of MDR at the state associations of the party. The associations are largely in agreement that Linnemann can adequately represent East German interests. According to the state chairman of the CDU Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Franz-Robert Liskow, his predecessor Czaja never really found his role as the “voice of the East”.
There are several reasons why Linnemann enjoys such a good reputation with the Eastern associations. The chairman of the CDU in Brandenburg, Jan Redmann, calls Linnemann a passionate campaigner for the party’s positions, who knows the East well from his studies in Chemnitz. “He knows that the people here are no different than in the West. They are just more sensitive to certain challenges and recognize them earlier,” says Redmann.
The general secretary of the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt, Mario Karschunke, does not see the danger of neglecting East interests in Linnemann either. As a former chairman of the SME and Economic Union, Linnemann is familiar with the specific problems and challenges of the new federal states. In his role as chairman of the Basic Values Commission, it is also his task to incorporate these findings into the new basic program of the CDU.
“The CDU must not become a West German party”
The CDU state association in Thuringia made a similar statement. According to the chairman Mario Voigt, Linnemann has already demonstrated a feeling for and listening to the issues of the East. He therefore expects that this will also be the case in the future. But Voigt also emphasizes: “The Union will only be successful if it is the advocate of East German interests and the people in the East associate positive future prospects with the Union.”
The general secretary of the CDU in Saxony, Alexander Dierks, also calls for the East to be strongly represented in the CDU committees in the future. At the same time, he acknowledges that the Deputy Federal Chairman, Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, his counterpart from Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, and the Vice-President of the Bundestag from Saxony, Yvonne Magwas, have been particularly committed to East German interests.
This is also confirmed by Brandenburg’s CDU leader Redmann. The CDU must not become a West German party. Otherwise she would have no chance in the East. That’s why Redmann is demanding that the vacant seat on the presidium at the next federal party conference be occupied by someone from the East. The East German federal states should continue to be represented in the CDU leadership.
Alternative to the traffic light
The majority of the state associations criticize the policy of the traffic light coalition in Berlin and believe that the CDU must offer the population real alternatives. The federal CDU must formulate and shape its policy as a clearly recognizable alternative to the traffic light course, emphasizes the CDU in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The Brandenburg CDU agrees. Only criticism of the federal government does not bring the party any further. The people of Brandenburg wanted a clear stance, such as that embodied by Linnemann. As a CDU, you cannot afford to ignore issues that move people. The state association is also calling for more concrete proposals from its own party, such as tax exemption for overtime, “so that performance pays off again”. People who would make an extra effort would have to have more in their pockets in the end so that confidence didn’t fall by the wayside.
Sharpen the CDU profile
The CDU in Thuringia is optimistic that Linnemann will succeed in giving the party a better profile with clear positions. He represents the basic principles of the social market economy and stands for the brand essence of the Union. Country manager Voigt sees a great opportunity in the decision for Linnemann. “We will say even more clearly what we stand for as the CDU and make it clear that we are the ones who have the answers to people’s pressing questions.”
This also sets you apart from the right, which primarily describes problems instead of solving them. The CDU does not need bullies, but encouragers like Carsten Linnemann. According to Voigt, the people in the East in particular long for clear future prospects and for securing the prosperity that they have worked for over the past 30 years.
State elections are scheduled for next year in Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz changed his general secretary last week after around a year and a half. Linnemann replaces Czaja, who was only elected Secretary General in January 2022. Successor Linnemann is an economics expert and has been Vice-Chairman of the CDU since last year. He has been a member of the Bundestag since 2009 and was head of the SME and Economic Union for several years.