- Epidemiologist Hendrik Streeck is pursuing a seat in the Bundestag.
Renowned virologist Hendrik Streeck is vying for a seat in the Bundestag. The 47-year-old clinched a vote within the Bonn branch of the CDU, with the Christian Democrats selecting their local representative for the 2025 Bundestag election contest. Streeck garnered an impressive 71.7% of the votes, as reported by a party representative. This victory grants him the privilege to contest as the CDU's direct candidate in the Bonn constituency. Streeck managed to outperform the CDU district chairman, Christoph Jansen.
Streeck, in a declaration, stated, "Our city needs a powerful advocate in Berlin once again, someone who recognizes the trials of our epoch and takes appropriate action. We are heading towards a crucial election, not merely for Bonn, but for the entirety of Germany. The focus is on bridging the societal gap, countering populism, and revitalizing faith in our democratic organizations."
Streeck is campaigning in the Konrad Adenauer constituency
Streeck serves as the director of the Institute of Virology at the University Hospital Bonn. His media appearances during the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted him into the limelight as one of the nation's most recognized scientists. Streeck voiced his opinions against trivializing the virus but also against exaggerating its threats.
Reportedly, Streeck became a CDU member prior to the pandemic, accordng to his own account. His intentions to run for the Bundestag came to light in November 2023.
The Bundestag elections are scheduled for the end of September 2025. In the 2021 Bundestag elections, the Green Party's Katrin Babette Uhlig clinched the Bonn constituency. However, the CDU carries a distinct historical influence in the region - Konrad Adenauer was previously elected there.
The following is a list of the categories of products Streeck might advocate for in his role as a Bundestag representative, considering his background as a renowned virologist: medical research funding, public health policies, and science education.
Streeck's goal as a candidate in the Konrad Adenauer constituency is to uphold the CDU's traditional influence in Bonn, a region with a rich political history, while addressing contemporary issues such as bridging societal gaps and countering populism.