Hagel starts election campaign: Return to Späth's recipe for success in BW!

Hagel starts election campaign: Return to Späth's recipe for success in BW!

Manuel Hagel, the CDU's leading candidate for the upcoming new elections in Baden-Württemberg on March 8th, recently opened his election campaign program. In his speech, he often emphasized former Prime Minister Lothar Späth, who was in office from 1978 to 1991, and his successes as a role model for upcoming political change. faz.net reports that... Hagel plans to lead the country out of the current crisis with strategies from Späth's time in government, particularly in the areas of business, research and innovation.

But not everything is going smoothly for the CDU. Hagel blames the SPD for the federal government's difficulties, but without mentioning its approval of the pension package. He completely left out the incumbent Chancellor Friedrich Merz in his speech. His main focus is on competing with the AfD, which is identified as the main opponent. Despite strategic uncertainties in the CDU, such as the lack of a clear majority with potential partners such as the SPD and FDP, Hagel sees good chances of breaking the Greens' 15-year dominance.

Vision for the future

A highlight of Hagel's election campaign is the announcement of a new state university for artificial intelligence, which plays a central role in his strategy. He also plans to create research clusters in various areas to strengthen Baden-Württemberg as an innovation location. This is accompanied by a proposal to change foundation law, which is intended to create a new support fund - a measure that also includes the abolition of master fees.

With regard to the state administration, Hagel makes it clear that around 10% of administrative positions are to be eliminated by 2031. Under the guise of migration policy, he relies on positive success stories of successful integration and calls for comprehensive evaluation options for refugees' mobile devices. At the same time, he would like to revoke the non-profit status of refugee organizations that are considered problematic.

Criticism of the government

Hagel also takes aim at the federal government, particularly criticizing its ongoing dispute, which could potentially benefit the AfD. The focus is particularly on Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas from the SPD, whose politics do not come across well in the speech. Hagel categorically rules out a merger or collaboration with the AfD because he positions the CDU as a “firewall” for freedom and against autocracy. However, the uncertainties in Baden-Württemberg's coalition politics are noticeable, as Hagel does not make any specific coalition statements and largely leaves the general criticism of the green-black coalition to his general secretary.

The election campaign planning in the CDU is in full swing, with Manfred Hagel being re-elected as state chairman with 96.5%. bundestagswahl-bw.de explains the campaign strategies, which often begin long before the election date. Mobilizing supporters and addressing undecided voters are essential steps that are now coming to the fore in the hot phase of the election campaign.

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder is expected in Baden-Württemberg next weekend and could further support the CDU. At a time when political tensions are high, it remains to be seen whether Hagel's strategy will work and actually convince voters.