CDU General Secretary Discusses Post-Election Concerns

In a recent interview, the General Secretary of the CDU, Carsten Linnemann, shared insights into his emotions following the party's narrow election victory. Expressing his initial expectations of a stronger performance, he recounted the shock of receiving forecasts that fell short of the anticipated 30 percent support. Linnemann described the day of the election as intense and filled with mixed emotions, as he grappled with the reality of winning but not achieving the desired level of voter support.

As the results came in, Linnemann noted the tense atmosphere, having received calls from various media outlets confirming the disappointing numbers. Although the CDU secured victory, the lower-than-expected percentage left him feeling disheartened. He conveyed the difficulty of managing public engagements and interviews immediately after the election, emphasizing the need to maintain a sense of duty amid personal disappointment.

One of Linnemann's primary concerns is the potential political landscape shift if the left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht had entered the Bundestag with her faction. He expressed that such a scenario might have led to an undesirable coalition and undermined the CDU's credibility in enacting significant political changes.

Another point of disappointment for Linnemann was the allocation of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to the SPD. He had hoped to take on this role himself but accepted a position in the coalition negotiations instead. This decision allowed him to remain actively involved in the political process rather than being sidelined.

In a lighter moment, Linnemann reflected on the emotional toll of football losses compared to political setbacks, indicating that sports hold a special place in his life and often evoke deeper feelings. He reassured supporters that his involvement in politics is driven by conviction rather than a lifelong commitment, quoting his grandmother's wisdom about accepting outcomes as they come.