In Brandenburg, there's an option to deactivate traffic signals.
Jan Redmann is currently dashing from meeting to meeting in Brandenburg. As the head of the state CDU, he's got a single-minded objective: become the Minister President of Brandenburg. However, politics isn't the main topic of conversation, but rather something else - he was nabbed riding an E-scooter while tipsy by the cops. In an interview, he articulates his ambition of becoming Dietmar Woidke's successor.
ntv.de: Mr. Redmann, you're aiming to become the first Minister President of the CDU in Brandenburg. The election is just around the corner on September 22nd - what's the vibe like?
Jan Redmann: My spirits are high. In eleven days, the election will take place, and I'm confident that we'll achieve our targets. Dietmar Woidke's announced he's calling it a day under the present circumstances.**
You mean his statement that he won't contest another term as Minister President if the SPD isn't the strongest party?
Jan Redmann: Exactly. For the past couple of years, the SPD has consistently placed second in every poll. Therefore, the people of Brandenburg will cast their votes on September 22nd to determine who succeeds Dietmar Woidke. As far as I can see, no one else fits the bill, not even in the SPD.**
You're cruising around the countryside with an old wooden bench from your parents' home, sparking conversations. What insights do you gain from these interactions?
It's always intriguing and insightful how diverse Brandenburg is. How people's everyday lives differ depending on where they reside. All too often, decisions are made with a focus on the larger cities, while the issues in smaller towns are entirely different.**
How so?
For instance, in public transportation, and not only that. If you want to refurbish a 200-year-old farmhouse in line with the energy transition standards, it's much more complicated than in a brand-new building. Many are worried about their future. They don't feel like enough is being done to secure prosperity, say in economic or education policy.**
Are you still frequently questioned about your E-scooter incident? Two months ago, you were caught riding one while under the influence by the cops. You had to surrender your driver's license and pay a fine of 8,000 euros.
Without a doubt, I've heard every joke under the sun about it in the past two months. That's par for the course. If you commit such an oversight, you've got to live with the mockery. But by now, people are more interested in other topics, particularly how this land will be governed in the future.**
It was a criminal offense, as levels of over 1.1 promille were measured. It was 1.3. Can one really still harbor aspirations for the highest office in Brandenburg after such a lapse? Would you let a political rival off the hook so easily?
One thing are slips in office, but another are personal missteps. I get the impression that the people of Brandenburg can easily judge this error themselves.**
Have you hopped back on an E-scooter since then?
Nope.**
Let's discuss content, like perhaps the most significant state matter: education. How do you intend to tackle the teacher shortage?
The teacher shortage affects all federal states. Take, for example, Saxony. There's also a teacher shortage there. Nevertheless, Saxony tops the education monitor of the New Social Market Economy Initiative. Brandenburg, however, ranks second from the bottom. The Brandenburg Ministry of Education has been under the control of the SPD for 30 years. Every second child struggles to read, write, or calculate properly by the end of the fourth grade. That annoys many parents, and I can relate.**
What do you plan on doing better?
Core competencies need to be placed back at the forefront: reading, writing, arithmetic. Therefore, we intend to institute a binding pre-school program in kindergartens to reduce discrepancies at the beginning of the first grade. And: Grades are crucial feedback for parents, children, and teachers. Therefore, they should be provided earlier than in the fourth grade, as is now the case in some schools. Those who are struggling should receive additional lessons. Children deserve our best possible assistance.
Even Brandenburg entrepreneurs grumble about excessive bureaucracy. What can be done at the state level? Many stipulations originate from Berlin and Brussels.
Unfortunately, this is often used as an excuse. Look at North Rhine-Westphalia. The CDU-led government has already passed several deregulation packages. That could work in Brandenburg as well. We must listen to craftsmen, businesses, and citizens about which rules specifically curb their progress and then implement the necessary changes. Therefore, we plan to introduce only new laws for a limited five-year period. It's a pledge to revisit and potentially replace these laws if more efficient solutions emerge, perhaps via artificial intelligence. We also need a digital check to bring existing regulations up to date.**
Companies are also suffering from high energy prices. Could this be an option for you to restart Russian gas imports, as Michael Kretschmer in Saxony suggests?
We need more rationality in energy policy. This includes improved energy infrastructure so we can utilize the wind energy generated in Brandenburg locally. We should not withdraw prematurely from the coal phaseout. The coal compromise with an exit date of 2038 was a tough negotiation and must be honored. If we exit ahead of schedule, as the Greens advocate, energy prices will also soar.**
And what regarding Russian gas?
The issue of conflict with Russia, particularly in the Uckermark at the PCK refinery in Schwedt, has been a concern. Our stance has always been that sanctions should primarily affect Russia and not harm Germany more. A temporary solution has been found with Kazakhstan, but a long-term perspective is lacking, causing uncertainty.
In Schwedt, oil is processed. Could Russian gas be an option again for our energy supply?
The refinery currently relies on Kazakh oil transported via a pipeline traversing Russian territory. However, this is only a short-term solution. After the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, other energy sources, whether gas or oil, will likely become viable options for Germany once more. I believe it's wrong to rule out such possibilities permanently.
Currently, the SPD is governing in alliance with the CDU and the Greens. Would that be your preferred coalition?
I'm working towards a strong CDU result. Presently, it seems that a coalition from the center is possible in Brandenburg. Naturally, I hope for a result that gives us negotiation power. But ultimately, that depends on the voters.
If the CDU were to emerge as the strongest faction in Brandenburg, would the Minister of Education then be from the CDU?
The CDU takes responsibility for all areas. The allocation of ministries results from coalition negotiations.
The AfD could also become the strongest force in Brandenburg. You clearly distance yourself from the possibility of forming a coalition with them. You aim to make an appeal to the voters. However, aren't they too xenophobic, pro-Russian, and extremist right?
It would be a grave error to dismiss all AfD voters outright. While it's true that there are undeniably extremist elements within their ranks, many others see an opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the established parties and to advocate for a different kind of politics, one that focuses more on the needs of the people. I aim to engage with these individuals and offer them an appealing alternative.
In Thuringia and Saxony, discontent with the traffic light coalition in Berlin played a significant role, according to many commentators. How do you view this situation?
The dissatisfaction with the traffic light coalition in Brandenburg is equally prevalent as in Thuringia, Saxony, and elsewhere in the country. But in Brandenburg, there's an opportunity to switch off the traffic lights. The SPD cannot simply dismiss a loss in their last stronghold. Even Saskia Esken and Olaf Scholz will have to consider if things can continue as they are. Those seeking a stable government in Brandenburg and an end to the traffic light chaos in Berlin should vote CDU on September 22.
However, isn't governing again with the SPD and Greens a contradiction to your argument?
No. The SPD has governed this state from the state chancellery for more than 30 years. It's time for a change. And the choice of minister president can make a significant difference. I aim to form a government of change with new priorities in education, internal security, and migration.
Would the BSW be a viable potential partner?
Their state political positions overlap in certain areas, such as internal security. But do they even want to govern? That's the question. Frau Wagenknecht appears more interested in setting up stumbling blocks to avoid taking on government responsibility in the end. My primary concern is their stance on the Bundeswehr. During the next legislative period, we, as a state, have crucial tasks in making the Bundeswehr suitable for defense, including infrastructure and Bundeswehr locations that need expansion. We stand behind our soldiers. Anyone wishing to form a coalition with the CDU must align their views with this stance.
After the election, the K-question in the Union will also be decided. Who is your favorite: Mr. Merz, Mr. Söder, or Mr. Wüst?
We'll decide that collectively after the election, as previously agreed.
Regarding the upcoming Elections to the Landtag of Brandenburg, Redmann expresses his confidence in achieving their targets and believes that the people of Brandenburg will determine Woidke's successor.
During his interactions with citizens, Redmann has gained insights into the diverse needs and concerns of Brandenburg's inhabitants, particularly in relation to transportation and education.
