Tobias Baumgärtner: CDU candidate for the state parliament with clear reform goals!

Tobias Baumgärtner: CDU candidate for the state parliament with clear reform goals!

Tobias Baumgärtner, an experienced politician and former mayor of Bellheim, would like to run for the CDU in constituency 50 in the state elections next year. This was decided during a joint general meeting of the CDU district associations Germersheim and Südliche Weinstrasse in the Dahlberghalle in Essingen. Baumgärtner prevailed in a secret ballot with 48 votes against his competitor Daniel Groß, who only received 12 votes. Lena Johler from Lustadt was elected as the replacement candidate, which shows that the CDU also relies on young talent. This is reported by the Rhine Palatinate.

Constituency 50 includes the municipalities of Offenbach, Bellheim, Lingenfeld and the city of Germersheim. In his application speech, Baumgärtner made it clear that he sees the financial undersupply of municipalities as a central problem. His demands for clear, earmarked allocations that directly benefit the municipalities are certainly weighty. “Whoever orders must also pay” – a principle that he would like to implement in the new financial equalization he is aiming for. He also advocates for a simplification of bureaucracy, real administrative reform and a more active role for the country in the areas of education, digitalization and healthcare.

Education and infrastructure in focus

Baumgärtner sees education policy in particular as an area of ​​action - his replacement candidate Lena Johler is also calling for an education offensive to counteract the acute shortage of teachers and the cancellation of classes. Together with the CDU, he would like to address the weaknesses in the education system, which have repeatedly led to discussions recently. Many parents are concerned about the high number of children at risk of being transferred and the inadequate language tests in daycare centers, to name just a few points. These concerns could be the basis for a new policy in Rhineland-Palatinate.

But the CDU also wants to take a stronger position in Rhineland-Palatinate beyond local concerns. Its general secretary, Johannes Steiniger, explains that the party wants to focus on economic competence and strengthening municipalities in the state election campaign. The CDU's goal is to become the strongest force in the state parliament in the election on March 22, 2024 and to prevent the formation of a government without it. The key points are not only economic development, but also the security situation and migration. Steiniger has also expressed criticism of the Climate Protection Act, which he sees as symbolic politics and which fears negative effects on jobs and the economy Lokalo.de.

Political landscape in Rhineland-Palatinate

The political conditions in Rhineland-Palatinate are currently exciting, and not just for the CDU. The government coalition made up of the SPD, FDP and Alliance 90/The Greens currently no longer has a majority. This could open the way for new coalitions, especially considering that parties that do not reach the five percent threshold could influence the distribution of seats in the state parliament. It remains to be seen how the political forces will move between now and the election. Even if the focus is initially on the CDU, the possibilities for new alliances are an important issue that will concern voters. You can find out more about this at dawum.de.