Newcomers in Power: Assessing Government Experience in German State Offices

The current political landscape in Germany is witnessing a significant trend: the rise of candidates for top government positions lacking prior governmental experience. This phenomenon raises questions about the implications for effective governance.

In this election cycle, alongside incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, three contenders--Friedrich Merz (CDU), Alice Weidel (AfD), and Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW)--are vying for the chancellorship without any prior experience in government roles. This marks a potential historic first for Germany, as Merz could ascend to the chancellorship without having held any governmental position.

To better understand the prevalence of inexperienced leaders in high offices, the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) conducted an analysis of past elections and the backgrounds of current officeholders across federal and state levels.

Historically, major political parties in Germany, particularly the CDU and SPD, have nominated candidates with a track record of governmental responsibilities, even if limited to smaller positions, such as the mayor of a small town. Notably, Guido Westerwelle, the first FDP candidate in 2002, entered the race against Gerhard Schröder without any prior governmental role, a scenario echoed by Annalena Baerbock's candidacy in 2021.

Only twice in German history have opposition candidates successfully unseated incumbent chancellors in federal elections. Gerhard Schröder managed to defeat Helmut Kohl in 1998, while in 2005, Angela Merkel, who had substantial ministerial experience, overcame Schröder.

The prospect of a chancellor without executive experience remains unprecedented. However, the current federal cabinet does feature several individuals without prior governmental roles. The recently formed coalition government, for example, included multiple ministers without any prior experience in public office.

Among the notable instances of inexperienced politicians, Christian Lindner, Marco Buschmann, and Bettina Stark-Watzinger from the FDP entered the cabinet without any previous governmental positions. Conversely, Volker Wissing had served as the Minister of Economics in Rhineland-Palatinate prior to his current role.

In examining members of the Green Party, it becomes evident that several ministers, including Annalena Baerbock and Cem Özdemir, joined the cabinet without any prior governmental experience. Similar patterns are seen among SPD members, such as Nancy Faeser and Karl Lauterbach.

In contrast to this trend, Boris Pistorius, the Minister of Defense, stands out with significant prior experience, having served as the mayor of Osnabrück and as the Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, surpassing even Chancellor Olaf Scholz in terms of governmental tenure.

A breakdown of governmental experience by party reveals that the Christian Social Union (CSU) holds the most extensive experience among its members, largely due to their long-standing representation in Bavarian politics. The FDP follows, albeit with a reduced number of ministers following recent departures. The SPD holds the highest number of government positions, while the CDU has seen new appointments in states such as Saxony and Thuringia, with leaders like Mario Voigt stepping into roles without previous governmental experience.

Noteworthy is Winfried Kretschmann, who became the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg in 2011 without prior governmental experience and has since been re-elected twice, demonstrating that newcomers can achieve significant success.

Friedrich Merz, should he assume office, would do so at the age of 69, marking a unique case as the oldest individual to start a governmental career in Germany. This trend of late-blooming politicians suggests that experience can be gained at any stage of life, potentially enriching the political landscape.