Some things take a long time in politics – but sometimes things happen very quickly: In 2020, Nicole Augustin, known as “Nici”, became part of the Greens local board in Vaterstetten, after joining the party just a year earlier. Another year later, the 39-year-old, who is responsible for customer communication in a tech start-up, ran as a delegate for the Federal Women’s Council and received the most votes. In the interview, the Purfingerin talks about the challenges for working mothers like herself, what drives her – and why her application speech felt like tearing off a plaster.
SZ: Ms. Augustin, do you prefer to work with women or with men?
Nicole Augustin: I don’t really care, the main thing is that people are good. In other words, someone who keeps their promises, who is reliable, creative and not too serious, who enjoys what they do.
You can choose friends, party colleagues rather not, right?
I think I basically get along with a lot of people. Within your own party, you can usually agree on common values, even if the views differ on the details. That’s what sets us apart: We discuss topics and look for a common basis. Politics consists mainly in making compromises, but in such a way that everyone can find their way without completely blurring the respective point of view.
You intend to do the same in the Federal Women’s Council. What is its most important task?
The coordination of women’s policy and equality policy work within the party as the highest body. Meetings are held at least twice a year. Since the Federal Women’s Council consists of many delegates from many areas, it has a great deal of voice.
On January 22, you received the most votes from 13 applicants in the election of the four delegates from Bavaria.
That’s correct. In the first ballot there were 131 out of 291. Because that did not correspond to an absolute majority, there was a second round. With 162 out of 290 I had enough votes.
There was much more to do than the election for the Federal Women’s Council. Some things had to be made up for from the state delegate conference in November 2021. What was the reason?
Because of the incredible growth in membership, many good people had run for office. Because everyone wanted to be allowed to give a speech, there wasn’t enough time at the end of the November session. It was a face-to-face event that people from all over Bavaria came to Augsburg for. At some point, many had to leave and we were no longer quorate, which is why various elections were postponed.
Did you already give your speech?
No, unfortunately not (laughs). The demolition was already apparent at noon and it’s no use giving a speech if the election is three months later. Nobody knows anymore what was said.
How have you been in the meantime?
I was already broken. One has prepared, has gathered all one’s courage to speak in an exhibition hall in which up to 600 people are seated. In terms of excitement, this is absolutely nothing compared to the digital gathering from a few days ago, where I was sitting in my living room in front of my laptop. The energy that is created in a hall when someone says something and everyone applauds is something very special.
How did it feel now, the second time – were you more experienced, less excited?
With the help of a colleague from the party, I tested everything again beforehand – after that it was like this: take a deep breath, tear off the band-aid, pull through. I had written this speech, it was mine. I liked what was there, it gave me a good feeling.
Your speech was also about how Obstacles are placed in the way of women in everyday life. Where does this happen most?
In the area that is called “mental load” in English. For many mothers, that starts in the morning: have a snack, then think: who plays soccer, who goes swimming, who has to be picked up and when and when was the children actually at the dentist’s last? It’s this constant spinning around that makes you so tired at the end of the day. So it’s no wonder if in the evening you don’t have the strength to go anywhere and get involved. Especially with the double burden of work and family.
At 37 you joined a political party. So how did that happen?
I had toyed with the idea for a long time, but the decisive factor was that an acquaintance joined the local branch. She said to me: “You, it doesn’t hurt at all, they’re really nice!” And that’s true: It’s not an elite club, as I feared, everyone is welcome, everyone can get involved.
The resolutions in the Federal Women’s Council are also based on common values. Which “topic of the heart” would you like to bring up there first?
Because it’s also my reality: How can we make it easier to combine family and work, ensure that people have the time and energy for voluntary work. It can’t be that you have to do without children because of that. Instead, it might make sense to stop working 40 hours and instead only work 30 or 35.
By “all” you mean…
Women and men. It’s like this: There are no trainers in a sports club because nobody has time. It has to turn as a whole – voluntary commitment has to find more recognition. We have to create relief for everyone so that we are not just stuck in the hamster wheel. The reality has changed. Fathers also want to be part of the whole.
What role does equality play in your home?
My husband and I split it up, we each know where we are. We can also rely on that. A lot of things wouldn’t work without my husband if he didn’t lend a hand as a matter of course. The boys still have some catching up to do when it comes to helping around the house (laughs) – like all eight to ten-year-olds.
Your motto in one sentence?
If something is important to you, you have to do it.