“Roll up your sleeves” and a tougher course in the election campaign called for almost-chancellor candidate Markus Söder a few days ago. So one could look forward to the CSU’s online event on Wednesday evening under the motto: “Because it’s important: Make Bavaria strong!” The Putzbrunn member of the Bundestag Florian Hahn, who is again running as a direct candidate in the Munich district, had invited Alexander Dobrindt – former Federal Minister of Transport and current chairman of the CSU regional group in the Bundestag. In the federal election on September 26th, Dobrindt is the CSU’s top candidate.
So now the election campaign in front of the webcam instead of in the beer tent, which Dobrindt expressly regrets. Reduced election campaign slogans are ultimately in the virtual space, without direct reaction from the audience. Does the harder course work like this? Because “clear edge, clear profile” is what Hahn also wants – but with a claim: “The CSU is responsible for Bavaria.” Clear profile, that also means: clear rejections of speed limits, diesel driving bans and tax increases.
Dobrindt calls for “courage to name differences”, which also means dealing constructively with the ideas of competitors. “Diplomacy and clarity have to come together,” says Dobrindt. Not only in the federal election campaign, but also in world politics. This can currently be observed on the basis of the depressing situation in Afghanistan, which once again proves that “there are cultural differences with regard to the understanding of democracy.” This knowledge must be taken into account in the future, because international terrorism will gain strength again and new refugee movements will arise.
Hahn is a full member of the Bundestag Defense Committee. For him, the most important military goal has been achieved in Afghanistan, he says: the fight against the terrorist network Al-Qaeda. The deployment of the Bundeswehr was flawless. This also applies to the evacuation missions of the past few days. Politicians are to blame for the failure. The reasons for this have to be worked up “at a suitable point in time”. Dobrindt contributes a clearer edge: Anyone who – like the Greens – questions Germany’s ability to defend himself or even NATO is questioning the Federal Republic’s internal security. One lesson from the situation in Afghanistan is that Germany, like the EU, must act more independently of the USA in defense matters. This needs concrete decisions, not just the crisp headlines of left politics.
Dobrindt also distinguishes himself from the left and the Greens when it comes to climate protection. He does say: “We have to get faster when it comes to climate protection.” But he also says: “We need innovations instead of bans.” To this end, the climate must always be thought of together with the economy. The Greens in particular would not do this, which would be a mistake, because: “Those who reduce prosperity through climate protection will not find any imitators.” One example is demands to ban short-haul flights. Clear edge: Such a ban is anti-European. Dobrindt also says: “I want us to remain an industrial country. I want us to remain an automotive country.” And you have to become the technology leader for hydrogen.
On the other hand, one idea that one “does not want to approach” is the gendering of legal texts, says Dobrindt. Here one is liberal enough that this is not necessary. In any case, he was considering sending back a gendered letter just for fun because he couldn’t understand it. It is the same with legal texts: “People have to understand what they read.” People should also be able to read the election platforms of various parties. Unfortunately, they are very “conciliatory” in 2021. Dobrindt then shows a clearer edge and less conciliation in his parade discipline: “Every vote for the Free Voters symbolically ends up in the trash and thus supports a left-wing coalition.”