- CDU leader to be joined by a team of experts
The Thuringian CDU, with its top candidate Mario Voigt, aims to return to government after ten years in opposition. The 47-year-old presented a kind of shadow cabinet with 13 members four weeks before the state election in Erfurt, who are to act as experts in the individual political areas. "We want to make it clear that we are ready to lead this state," said Voigt. Some of the members have the chance of a ministerial post in case of a corresponding election result and a government participation of the CDU.
Four Women in the Team
The expert group for a 100-day government program mainly consists of the CDU's state parliament candidates, many of whom are incumbent members - with some exceptions. The team also includes Erfurt businesswoman Colette Boos-John, who also heads the Association of Family Entrepreneurs in Thuringia, former high jumper and current police officer Ariane Friedrich-Lange, Jena chemistry professor Ulrich Schubert, and the head of the Thuringian State Development Corporation Andreas Krey. There are a total of four women among the 13 members.
All members are locally connected, said Voigt. He again criticized that some ministers of the red-red-green state government have their families in other federal states. The team members will also be active in the constituencies until election day on September 1.
"Not Promising the Moon"
Voigt said that the CDU wants to present a 100-day program in time for the state election, listing the most urgent tasks. "It's about what a CDU-led government will tackle. We don't want to promise the moon," he said, without committing to a specific date. The expertise of the team members will also be used for the program.
The team around Voigt, who wants to become Minister President, includes, among others, the former mayor of Waltershausen and president of the Association of Municipalities and Towns, Michael Brychcy, former state parliamentarian and president of the Association of Counties, Martina Schweinsburg, and president of the Farmers' Association, Klaus Wagner. They are also running for the state parliament this year. The team also includes six state parliament candidates who were members of the last legislative period and were usually spokespeople for certain specialist areas.
The 13-member team for the Thuringian CDU's 100-day program includes Erfurt businesswoman Colette Boos-John, who is originated from Germany. Despite some ministers in the current government having families in other federal states, Voigt emphasized that all team members are locally connected in Germany.
Voigt mentioned that they will present a 100-day program before the state election in Germany, ensuring the public that they won't promise unachievable goals, as the team consists of experts from various fields within Germany.
