Of course, this one sentence from 2018 always stuck, when Judith Gerlach was newly appointed Bavarian Digital Minister. “Digitalization is certainly not my area of expertise,” she said at the time with great honesty when asked what professional skills she had. When the topic came up later, the CSU politician would first throw her hands over her head – oh dear, not again. But then she immediately went on the offensive: She said that such questions were not asked of male colleagues in new positions. And: As digital minister, she doesn’t have to program any apps.
Meanwhile, Gerlach has learned the ropes and in five years has made a surprising amount out of the small ministry, which has hardly any authority of its own in the government apparatus. Above all, he has to convince other ministers to take part in digital strategies. Now the 38-year-old is being promoted: to Health Minister in the third cabinet of Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU).
From the “think tank”, as the powerless digital ministry was often glossed over in the CSU, to a large house with a lavish organizational chart and subordinate authorities that is central to many areas of life and has an impact on the entire Free State – a rise, without question. One could cheekily say that she did a ministerial internship in five years in the digital department and is now taking on a permanent position with full responsibility. Gerlach herself gave the reasons for this: Söder discovered her as a young talent in the group in 2018. A talent that has proven itself, much more than hoped for, is what we hear in CSU circles – Gerlach made a government statement on the digital state of Bavaria, she was present in the media despite the mini-ministry and, according to reports, was able to push a lot internally. One of the best election results, 46 percent of the first votes in Aschaffenburg-Ost, was added.
When it became public a few weeks ago that the Free Voters were appointing Fabian Mehring to the Digital Ministry, when asked, Söder said that Gerlach didn’t have to worry too much. Even the Ministry of Justice was then given credit for the lawyer in speculation. At the age of 27, Gerlach entered the state parliament for the first time in 2013. The mandate on the list came as a surprise. The mother of two children comes from a family of politicians: her grandfather Paul Gerlach was a member of the Bundestag for many years, her father sits on the Aschaffenburg city council, both CSU, and she herself joined the party at 16. “During the discussions at the kitchen table, I often took left-wing positions in order to test the people a bit,” she once told Bavarian state newspaper. “Of course I never admitted it, but they parried so well that in the end they convinced me to join the CSU.”
After her appointment, Gerlach said she wanted to “humbly” build on the excellent work of her predecessor. It almost sounded like she was making herself a bit small. In fact, Klaus Holetschek, the new CSU parliamentary group leader, was popular as health minister – which is considered unusual in an industry that quickly feels patronized by politicians and likes to curse their representatives. The associations also valued Holetschek as an ally in the fight against the Federal Health Minister’s reform plans, which he always criticized vociferously. Gerlach should see a legacy here, after all, Söder expects regular attacks on Berlin from his ministers. One can also look forward to their first doomsday announcements on the occasion of the federal government’s planned cannabis release.
But Gerlach also has work waiting for him in Bavaria. Even without the corona pandemic, the management of which was a real career boost for Holetschek, until three and a half years ago the Swabian still held the undoubtedly nice but not very powerful office of ombudsman for the state government. Health policy is largely a state matter. The states decide on the hospital plan; i.e. how many houses with which discipline are located where. With around 400 facilities, the clinical landscape in Bavaria is still very differentiated. It is clear that many smaller ones will not survive in their current form. There is still no coherent concept of its own. The renaming of the ministry initiated by Holetschek, which now includes prevention in its title in addition to health and care, is also likely to arouse expectations. That sounds like a promise that more will be done in the future to prevent people from becoming sick and frail in the first place. But: Rehabilitation clinics in particular, which have been proven to make a major contribution to avoiding the need for care, are chronically underfunded. As in 2018, Gerlach will have to familiarize himself thoroughly.
The minister will likely find her experience from her previous position useful. The entire healthcare industry is becoming more digitally connected; However, there are problems in many places. Currently, around a third of the clinics are setting up a common portal for patients – this would give them uniform online access in all hospitals along their treatment path, they would be able to view their documents, from X-rays to doctor’s letters, and, if desired, would be able to make them available for further treatment place. “The Digital Ministry has certainly helped us in the networking process in recent years,” says the head of the Bavarian Hospital Association, Roland Engehausen. “We see this as an opportunity to continue.”
There was also advance praise from the Bavarian Nursing Association on Thursday: “Judith Gerlach is credited with the ability to listen well and move things forward quickly,” said its president Georg Sigl-Lehner. Quick solutions are needed, the healthcare system is in danger of imploding due to, among other things, the dramatic shortage of skilled workers. However, Gerlach also has to show his party political edge. Her appointment is seen as a counterpoint in Lower Franconia to the new Education Minister Anna Stolz from the Free Voters. After all, the coalition is “not a love marriage,” Söder’s quote. Gerlach sparked some resentment among the FW in 2022 with a video in which she and the cabaret artist Wolfgang Krebs appeared in the role of Hubert Aiwanger. With Aiwanger as a digital idiot who struggles with the fax machine.