CDU candidate: A primary success for Thomas Haldenwang on a bumpy street | EUROtoday

Thomas Haldenwang turns to the delegates within the rows of seats and shouts loudly into the corridor: “Very much!” Joy and reduction might be seen on the 64-year-old’s face. The earlier president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) was simply requested whether or not he needed to simply accept the election.

82 of 114 CDU members current elected him because the direct candidate within the Wuppertal I constituency on Saturday afternoon. That’s virtually 72 p.c. It’s a transparent majority, however not a formidable one. In the neighboring constituency, the CDU direct candidate was nominated with 95 p.c approval.

It’s a bumpy street for Haldenwang, who’s retiring after six years as BfV president for well being causes and desires to maneuver to the Bundestag. His direct candidacy within the early federal election on February 23, 2025 isn’t a sure-fire success. On Saturday he needed to compete towards 35-year-old Derya Altunok. The younger competitor had surprisingly challenged him.

This duel has a fragile historical past. Altunok was initially imagined to run as a direct candidate within the Wuppertal I constituency, on the private suggestion of CDU district affiliation chief Johannes Slawig. The German-born girl with Turkish roots has shortly made a profession since becoming a member of the celebration in 2022, changing into deputy district chairwoman and chairwoman of the Wuppertal Women’s Union.

Just a few weeks later, Slawig surprisingly modified course, and originally of November the district govt nominated Haldenwang. The disembarked Altunok declared her renunciation and even voted for Haldenwang on the district board. Just a few days later she modified her thoughts and declared that she was working towards Haldenwang.

Party chief Slawig requires unity

The seek for candidates within the CDU Wuppertal reveals quite a bit about political etiquette. Haldenwang himself is in want of rationalization as a result of his well being not feels match sufficient for BfV administration, however for parliamentary work. In addition, critics, together with these from the CDU/CSU, accuse him of strengthening the AfD’s accusation that the BfV is politically influenced by his seamless transfer to parliament.

All of that is at greatest taken under consideration within the duel between Haldenwang and Altunok within the Bergische occasion location in Wuppertal-Vohwinkel, however not addressed. Party chief Slawig merely warns that after the choice, the CDU should marketing campaign collectively and with dedication for a change in coverage in Berlin.

Haldenwang made fairly an impression even earlier than the assembly started: there have been a number of police automobiles outdoors and safety guards have been stationed within the corridor. As BfV President, he has repeatedly taken a public stance towards extremists, particularly the AfD, and depends on particular safety. The safety effort alerts to these current: somebody vital has arrived.

The corridor is in any other case rented for weddings and different celebrations. White synthetic roses dangle the wrong way up from the ceiling. Below, the CDU members sit on padded chairs.

First Altunok will get to provide her utility speech. The senior worker of the regional employment company stands behind the lectern and speaks loudly and energetically. She says that that is the start of a brand new section for her and for the celebration. CDU members requested her to “make a different offer for a different type of politics.” She is “not running against one person today, but for a new understanding of politics.”

Altunok talks about folks’s worries, job loss, pensions which are too low, meals that’s too costly. “We have to dare to do more with Ludwig Erhard and less with Robert Habeck,” says Altunok. Security is “state task number one”. When it involves migration, you must “be honest”. You cannot soak up everybody who comes for humanly and economically comprehensible causes.

In the tip, Altunok once more emphasizes the “new political style” and a “credible renewal”. She offers a strong speech, however hardly ever will get applause, and when she does, it is solely from a handful of individuals.

Then it is Haldenwang’s flip. He turns himself in earlier than the lectern into the room and holds the microphone in his hand. He says that there’s a lot he can omit of his speech as a result of it has already been stated. It appears like Haldenwang is improvising. He makes use of the niches that Altunok left him.

It’s not nearly taking inventory, he says, but additionally about who’s the “right person” for the direct candidacy. “Who can represent this policy better in Berlin, who can at least implement it in your party’s constituency?” He is “predestined” for it, “because I’m a real boy from Wuppertal.” Haldenwang talks about his life, names areas, remembers earlier occasions. He describes his many years {of professional} and political expertise, first within the “Bonn Republic” after which in Berlin. Haldenwang says he’s very effectively related. For him it is about conveying competence.

He additionally outlines some subjects and likewise mentions limiting migration. Haldenwang speaks for nearly quarter-hour and finally offers the higher speech. There is just one request to talk within the debate. It comes from a CDU member who emphasizes that it’s about supporting somebody like Haldenwang within the struggle towards fascism and extremism. By then it’s clear that Haldenwang will prevail.

The subsequent problem now awaits him: He has to say himself within the direct constituency towards the Social Democrat Helge Lindh, who has already received right here twice. The constituency has been firmly within the arms of the SPD for many years.

Political editor Kristian Frigelj is liable for state political points at WELT, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia.