New Prime Minister - Schweitzer wants to be present "on Tiktok and at the counters"
The first six years of Alexander Schweitzer's life were spent growing up on cargo ships - then it was a permanent move to Land in Bad Bergzabern, in the Palatinate. The 2.06 meter tall Social Democrat is, in his own words, a "rural worker child" and the first in his family to have passed the Abitur. From this Wednesday onwards, the communicative 50-year-old is expected to be at the helm of Rhineland-Palatinate. Education, regions, and democracy are the first priorities of the lawyer in the interview with the German Press Agency in Mainz.
Schweitzer comes from a family of inland waterway shippers who were on the move between Germany and the Benelux countries. "I grew up among people who worked around the clock with their hands," says Schweitzer. "This time has also shaped my image of work. I have no problem with a lot of work."
His background is a commitment for the long-standing SPD politician, Landtags fraction leader, and former Minister in the Landes- and Federal Party. "We must renew the upward mobility promise in Germany," says the former Minister for Labor and Transformation as future Governor. "I will set accents in education and further education." The demands on kindergartens and schools have grown enormously. "We cannot stand still and must always develop new ideas," emphasizes the father of two schoolchildren. "As SPD, we must always think about education."
"Confessing to performance"
Schweitzer also appeals to the performance readiness of the Rhinelanders. "It's a progressive thought that people want to take care of themselves, their health, and their families in addition to work," says the Vegan. But: "Our prosperity model in Germany will only be maintained if we also acknowledge our performance."
Looking into the regions and the cohesion of the country is another focus of his tenure, according to Schweitzer before the election. "I want to look into the regions and work together with the regions to further develop the country," says Schweitzer. "For regions with special challenges, it also requires special financial initiatives." The West Palatinate, the Hunsrück, and the area between the Eifel and Luxembourg are mentioned as examples. "I come from the village, but I have known Mainz for many years and value both: the city and the rural area. The true treasures of Rhineland-Palatinate are in both."
Schweitzer wants to be a "thorough Minister-President"
"Without dialogue, there is no democracy," describes Schweitzer his third priority. "I have decided to be a thorough Minister-President, but also a learning one," emphasizes the SPD politician. "We must endure within the democratic spectrum that the other side sometimes has a different opinion. That is legitimate, and one can also take on arguments." As a child on the inland waterway ships, he learned "to deal with people and with unusual situations," recalls Schweitzer. "I learned to ride a bike in the harbor and played on board a cargo ship."
People should feel that they are being listened to, that they have a role, emphasizes the future Minister-President. "I want to be where the people are and where opinions are being formed. That's also TikTok and the pubs." The summer will be "already very intensive" according to him. "I want to be on the road where people are."
Schweitzer, who refers to himself as a "passionate parliamentarian" and was known for his sharp and spontaneous speeches during his seven-year tenure as faction leader (2014-2021), will certainly be heard more frequently in the state parliament as Minister-President. "As a minister, I often sat on the government bench and had to retain many things in the debate," Schweitzer recounts. He promises: "I will not only contribute during government declarations and then keep quiet. That wouldn't suit me."
- Alexander Schweitzer, who is set to become the New Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, spent the first six years of his life on cargo ships while growing up in Bad Bergzabern, a town in the Palatinate region.
- Schweitzer, a Social Democrat and a former Minister in both the Landes- and Federal Party, has a strong commitment to education, stating that Germany needs to renew its promise of upward mobility.
- The Benelux countries were frequent stops for Schweitzer's family, who were inland waterway shippers, and this background has shaped his work ethic and commitment to regions.
- Schweitzer wants to focus on the cohesion of the country, especially for regions with special challenges, such as the West Palatinate, Hunsrück, and the area between the Eifel and Luxembourg.
- In his role as Minister-President, Schweitzer aims to promote democracy by fostering dialogue, stating that without it, democracy cannot function.
- Schweitzer values both urban and rural areas, having grown up in a village but also having lived in Mainz for many years.
- The German Press Agency interviewed Schweitzer, and he emphasized the importance of education and performance in maintaining Germany's prosperity model.
- Schweitzer plans to be a thorough and learning Minister-President, having learned the importance of dialogue and adaptability from his childhood on cargo ships.
- As a passionate parliamentarian, Schweitzer promises to be more vocal as Minister-President, contributing to debates and not just during government declarations.
