Dieter Althaus, 2008 was the unchallenged top man of the CDU in Thuringia. The party relied entirely on him. Then the skiing accident happened at the Althaus-inflicted death of a young mother, Althaus, but also made a tragic manner known nationwide. On Sunday Althaus is re-election in Thuringia.
“Yes, you’ve obviously noticed, and some have already shaken the hands of our Prime Minister Thuringia Dieter Althaus. Welcome!” (Applause.)
A campaign stage in Gera, East Thuringia. The sun is shining, a dozen beer table is occupied. Dynamic sprints of the CDU’s leading candidate on the stage.
“Thank you dear Gerda, and thank you for the wonderful reception. I’m glad to be here.”
All here know him. For the fans are sitting. A weighed audience. Many Frenchman.
“I am delighted to be here today in Gera. Nice to see you’re here.”
CDU Prime Althaus praises the region, the Christian Democrat, the successes of the city. He counts everything that has been created, built and sustained. He regionalized its text blocks, which he then repeated, and so similar to many occasions. Instead of “Thuringia is well under way” is now “well advanced in eastern Thuringia,” instead of A 71 and A 73 is the bypass Geras, on which one could be proud of. Althaus wants to sell success. And make it clear that the CDU knows where the problems lie.
“It remains the most important task, which applies to Gera, which covers eastern Thuringia, which applies to the whole of Thuringia, the existing middle class, given the existing economic structures, and assist them so that they grow in the coming years. For then have the people here, their future, and then the wage can be designed so that the perspective on life can be successfully performed on. ” (Applause.)
He is again good shape, but seems a bit slower. He is tanned, but leaves a faint impression. The suits are sitting good, but it has lost in stature, has shown little clear edges, can play no muscles. The CDU-based but is glad he is back in action, and keeps his unbroken loyalty.
“Out of conviction. First, I am anyway CDU member, secondly, I stand 100 percent behind our prime minister, behind our whole policy, and then it’s very, very important that on Sunday the election turns out well.”
A young man holds up the “main-Thuringia” sign. He was behind Althaus, because there was still more of a younger, he says.
“Also I like his way of how to deal with people, as he approaches to the human, as well as problems when they occur, they worked.”
Behind the rows of beer-demonstrators are wearing yellow T-shirts. “Out for a better family policies,” it says. Two Green hold up their election posters: Old out, green clean. For the CDU-based Gera Dieter Althaus, however, remains the undisputed top man.
“I am for Dieter Althaus, because the transfer of Bernhard Vogel Dieter Althaus to actually a deliberate and was for many years he has attended in his cabinet and thus has been related to a stringent policy for over 20 years in Thuringia Dieter Althaus. ”
Althaus, sits down at one of the beer halls and signed photographs and a CD with a song of Thuringia, where he sings along a line.
“Well, do you? What’s your name?” “Anna” “Anna?”
Althaus going to contact. Is affable.
“Do you live in Gera? “Yes.” “A real Gersch.”
The CDU has ruled since the fall of Thuringia. Time in a coalition, sometimes – like now – alone. Bernhard Vogel was the great predecessors. He has merged the Thuringian CDU, the wings at peace, has moderated the economic development of the country, has represented democracy. In 2000, Bird made the CDU chairmanship to the country Althaus. 2003 Vogel also passes the prime ministership.
“The reconstruction of a country that has won ten years after reunification, a new profile, the center, has indeed become the strong heart of Germany to accompany this path is, for me was a fascinating thing. And to do that, but In retrospect, I am very, very grateful. ”
He trusts it Althaus, the ambitious math teacher from the Eichsfeld that he, just 33-years old, as minister of culture brought into the government. Catholic and conservative, as he did. Althaus takes over and emerges from the shadow of the bird. He becomes a shooting star. The eastern face of the West German CDU dominated. Welcome interviewees in all media. He shines as a man of “Solidarity Citizen’s money.” Familiar with Merkel – both are natural scientists – he now belongs to their competence team, responsible for Eastern issues, although with both feet in Thuringia. His desire to consolidate the country. Slowly and financially independent. Even coming out of every euro that is spent in the Free State, 47 cents from the rich countries of the Federal Republic and the EU. Althaus creates the net zero.
“From 2007 we have made no new debts. That is, we have ensured by their own decisions, that we are not just talking about consolidation, but that we also support the consolidation of bold steps.”
The Government shall endeavor to mainly small and medium-promoting economic structure. The gross domestic product by 2008, rising by 15 percent. Even though the average wage in Thuringia has persisted in more than 20 percent below Western levels. The central theme of Dieter Althaus, a member of the Central Committee of Catholics, is the family. It wants to strengthen it and protect it.
“And then they have – also said to gloss over it again then – we had an antiquated family photo. I do not know which image you have of family. For me, family is the foundation of a society. She has done it for centuries in difficult times , always provided society with a future. To me family is the basic element of society. In sociology you can read this: The principles of order, it is always number one. ”
Family policy nationwide is outstanding. But the Thuringian struggling for more. Internally, all parties to compete better early childhood education, more educators. A legal right to a nursery place from the first year of life will the SPD, even from birth, says the Left.
“All the best and good luck.”
“I would like an autograph from you.”
“Do you leave here?” Do you live with relatives? ”
“We are here with relatives.”
The queue of those who want an autograph by Althaus, is long. He is a popular father of his country. Depending on the survey, it would choose the present 42 percent of the Thuringian again as prime minister if she could jump. His challenger, Christoph Matschie of the SPD and Bodo Ramelow of the Left Party are well behind it. Althaus is known. He is also without end in the country on the move, cuts ribbons, barnstorms about festivals. His workload even compels respect from critics. And he exudes Stallgeruch – “The Dieter’s one of us”. “Those are voters, says the CDU parliamentary leader Mike Mohring:
“Where the Thuringian say – in a survey, we have made – for well over 50 percent – they feel for him most of all in all three leading candidates, the Thuringia-identity in him is visible and they have the feeling that he fight for this country wants. ”
Althaus plays from this bonus. He knows the earthiness of Thuringia. When he surprisingly auswechselt in April 2008 two thirds of his cabinet, he will improve with recognizable heads of Thuringia, the mood in the country and party.
“It was natural for me that I do not look now, where is externally nor someone who can be added as an expert, but very carefully respects: how the people are too credible in its representative office in Thuringia. And they are all, they are credible, because their lives are working with people and myself can describe their own reunion story. ”
Group leader Mohring confirmed that there was almost a yearning in the country to be able to positively represent their own biographies. Nobody should be ashamed to have lived in the GDR. This newly formed Eastern and Thuringia-identity has a downside. To feel they get, among other things and prominent Althaus challenger Bodo Ramelow of the Left Party. He is held up much, very explicitly, but mainly imported from West Germany. “None of us”, ran the Young Union.
“The really dangerous thing about it,”
says Bodo Ramelow,
“so that it shows that it is strange here – and I am now aware of strangers – not desirable. And ‘alien’ is meant anything which is not from here.”
He knew from the villages where the so-called Beigefreiten, so those who have married a woman of the village, to be fair amusement.
“The fact that an entire State, an entire state at one time by a political elite at the level of a village behavior should be characterized, which I think is ludicrous. Because: It makes us all the doors.”
Under Althaus newfound identity has its strike side to xenophobia. The government itself may not stand for it. He wants, he said, an outward-Thuringia. The small Free State need immigrants. From anywhere. Althaus raises the issue of integration appears even – on one of his election posters. Since broadcasts along with other well-born Angolans Zeca sound for the prime minister. What he is threatened by the NPD. Zeca Schall says, laughing, he was probably the only black member of the Thuringian CDU. He rightly sees as a right-wing attack on democracy.
“So an attack and insult to my person is a total attack Union and also an attack all values of democracy.”
But integration is more a matter of Althaus’ opponents, even qua family. SPD state and parliamentary leader Christoph Matschie is married to a native Eritreerin, has two children with her. Wife of the Left Party point man Bodo Ramelow comes from Italy. Both are indeed living in the cosmopolitan image of Thuringia. So they do not peddled past. Mainly to protect her family, knowing about the latent xenophobia of many features of Thuringia. Only now in the final stage shows Matschie Mitslal with his wife in a brochure. Althaus scores with his wife Catherine Thuringia. Also in the party and government’s abilities to integrate and communicate rather less pronounced. His leadership style is autocratic. He has of course also not allow enough room with a group that has only a wafer-thin majority in parliament, the CDU has 45 seats left and the SPD along 43rd Bodo Ramelow:
“Otherwise it is a rope in the high, hard mountains, can not be left in any of the rope. Then there is a fear of losing the majority and government. Because there was no time to experiment, by Dieter Althaus, as party chairman and as a Prime Minister, majorities see time in parliament. I believe that this is a structural problem in our own thinking and action that one has the feeling that one should not reach out to others. ”
But Althaus is the undisputed top man. The CDU is relying entirely on him. Back to the country’s congress late last year, she gave him her 100-percent backing. It addresses the entire campaign for him. What a shock when, on the first of January at the Riesneralp in Styria accident while skiing. And even worse: that a woman leading to death. The party is paralyzed at first. But it works. The team led by the Deputy Althaus Birgit Diezel, the earth’s Finance Minister, is closed through the exciting time.
“There is no Plan B.”
“There is no reason for discussion.”
“Our lead candidate is Dieter Althaus.”
“We really have outside a debate that we get each week permanently reingetragen to us that we should think about a Plan B. And everyone is just surprised that the CDU Thuringia is so closed.”
Week after week, the Thuringian Christian anxious to Dieter Althaus. He scores points for her – in absentia. For news, he crashed the poor at a time Althaus runs on all channels. Any medical opinion will be broadcast live by at least two television stations. Any recovery progress reported.
“Sometimes it seems that it is almost clear, and then he again has phases where he forgets a lot and onto things that have set back a quarter, can no longer remember.”
All of Germany meets the “fit individual Dieter” know who can ski so fast that it leaves even his bodyguards away. It learns the faithful wife Catherine to know which places the job on hold to nurse her husband. Which goes to the funeral of the slain. The family portrait of the CDU is transported not better. The conviction for manslaughter will be accepted without comment. When the CDU in March draws up its list of state elections, a candidate Althaus – in writing. He is still in treatment. The CDU elect him to first place. Not exactly a good feeling, because no one knows how he has handled the story, but still significant:
“There were 123 votes in favor, seven against, no abstention, Dieter Althaus is chosen with 94.62 percent of the vote.”
Even his now 76-year-old predecessor, Bernhard Vogel, gives his blessing.
“We need him and we are waiting for him.” (Applause.)
After 110 days, on 20 April this year, returns to the government back to the State Chancellery. As Althaus is physically and mentally remarkably restored. Only the soul seems to have remained on the runway.
“Mr. Christandl lost his beloved wife and the year-old child in the family his mother. From the report, which is present, it appears that I am guilty. That affects me, and I wear them hard.”
Formula imprisonment and emotionless, he graduated from the media circuit.
“I feel fit, I feel good.”
Does analytically strong, controlled and logical. But it is not intuitive.
“And I am happy that now I am back on the stage that I am back in the team, and that I am full again as prime minister can be responsible.”
The Thuringian react differently.
“He’s a very honorable man that he almost acknowledges this debt also.”
“He could now actually say what he wants, because: The woman is indeed dead, as all know.”
“He did not consciously made. This was clearly an accident. No more and no less.”
“I retired I would have.”
Althaus withdraws not. He thought for a minute of stopping, he says. He wants to fight. To each voice. With all his strength. And without prejudice? Althaus manifests itself first in tabloid newspapers to what has made the accident with him – he had become more sensitive and had again fallen in love with his wife, he prays daily for the deceased. That annoys the opposition that the accident really did not want thematise. But now is the rival in the media, the victim of a blow of fate. Whether intended or not, the opposition certainly call this a production that was the indecent. And she was given backing by the lawyer for the widower, who said Mr. Christandl feel some remarks as disrespectful. Since Althaus is thin-skinned, even briefly aggressive. But then again distanced answer:
“I have not a single event in Thuringia seen in recent weeks when the issue has been addressed by voters in Thuringia. And I myself have not even addressed in a single place. Therefore, it is not at all in everyday life in Thuringia instead. And I am pleased that the Thuringian voters think so too, and act exactly how I personally feel. ”
The first of January – a fateful day, which is privately Dieter Althaus and processed as a politician, who is quite the old man again? Yeah, sure, says his deputy Birgit Diezel.
“So I say: I know him in the Cabinet, he is quite the old man. As for the daily work and the work in the party. He is there quite the old man.”
If he is all there – which then puts his feelings? What he says is true, largely but not to heart. The facts are in, but do not convince them. He answered accurately, but not imaginative. What is written and powerful sounds optimistic, but is pronounced without the necessary spark of emotion. It felt as adolescents. On a Thursday, the top three candidates are debating a guest at the “Youth”: Christoph Matschie, SPD, Bodo Ramelow of the Left Party and Dieter Althaus. The result is clear:
“I found the most likable of the SPD.”
“The best I found Matschie.”
“In any case, the SPD has convinced me the best.”
“I also found Ramelow, as he has spoken of his own person, which I found very convincing.”
“Mr. Ramelow I found a bit aggressive and loud.”
“Althaus Yes, well, did not stop me now so completely convinced.”
“Dieter Althaus as the person has not revealed much of himself, has done just his job.”
“He has spoken correctly drum rum.”
“Cool, he seemed a bit disinterested.”
Althaus knows that the election is won on the last meters. He fights. With a strong man in the back. And those who want continuity, they say, to the economic policy of the CDU there is no alternative. Those who are afraid of red-red. Is decided on Sunday.
“Help me. I want to continue to serve my country as prime minister. Good luck! And the 30.8. Will be a day for you and for us, we will be successful.”