Factual discussion in a rustic atmosphere
The venerable walls of “Old Castle Factory” in Solingen are actually a location where celebrations are boisterous – for example weddings. The atmosphere on Thursday was completely different, because the TV duel was about the differences in content between the incumbent and the challenger in a quiet and concentrated setting. In places, the whole thing had the atmosphere of a political fireside chat – the warmly lit factory also contributed to this.
Both politicians answered in a mostly factual tone, argued with facts and figures. In particular, Thomas Kutschaty, as leader of the opposition in the state parliament, has often acted in a much more aggressive, rhetorically pointed and gesturally expansive manner in recent years. But here both had probably decided to score with objectivity. Again and again, despite the differences in content, which certainly exist, the impression of a great unity was left behind.
The controlled body language
Stefan Verra, an expert on body language, said before the duel on the WDR live stream that the opponents did not have to name topics, but emotionalize them. Wüst and Kuschaty, on the other hand, appeared in such a way that Verra said afterwards: “You haven’t made it easy for the undecided.”
As an expert, however, he noticed many details, such as that Wüst with often tightly closed lips “relatively stiff and relatively controlled” Worked, while Kuchaty did not reach people with his eyebrows raised at times and his eyelids drooping at the same time. Subtleties for gourmets.
Different emphases
The factual level is completely different, here the core issues of the two politicians became clear: Prime Minister Wüst, who has only been in office since October 2021 (at that time he succeeded Armin Laschet), tried to score points with the classic Union issue of internal security. Among other things, he advocated increased video surveillance of crime hotspots. NRW became safer five years ago during the reign of black and yellow.
Former North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Justice Kuchaty criticized the lack of police forces in many places, despite promises. Above all, he emphasized the social aspect and warned, among other things, of cuts in hospitals. He spoke out in favor of affordable rented apartments and state housing – a central theme of the SPD in the election campaign. In school politics, he criticized the cancellation of lessons.
Election promise on the exciting topic of school
In 2017, school policy was considered a main reason for the vote out of the then red-green state government. School Minister Yvonne Gebauer (FDP) in the criticism because of their corona crisis management. SPD and CDU both promised major improvements for schools should they win the election. He would tackle the adjustment of the starting salary for all teachers in the first 100 days of the new legislative period, said Wüst.
The prime minister acknowledged that this promise has remained open in the current parliamentary term. The priority was to increase the number of teaching posts. He also wants to hire 10,000 additional teachers in the new election period – as in the current term. The SPD wants to introduce the starting salary A 13 for everyone from the 2023 school year. So far, teachers at primary, secondary, secondary and comprehensive schools in NRW have been paid less than teachers at the upper secondary level.