Preview of Super Election Sunday
On 13 March voters will be going to the polls in three federal states to decide the composition of their parliaments.
Rhineland-Palatinate: a women’s duel
In Rhineland-Palatinate Malu Dreyer (SPD) is currently governing together with the Greens. Her challenger is Julia Klöckner of the CDU. Malu Dreyer is 55 years old, a lawyer, and since 2013 the first woman to hold the most senior office in Rhineland-Palatinate. Her winning trademark is her humane attitude. During her time in office she has successfully coped with the arrival of refugees, ensuring that they are accommodated and registered, calmly and quietly. In recent months Julia Klöckner, who is 43 years old, has become increasingly involved in the discussion surrounding refugees. She is campaigning for the legal obligation of refugees to integrate and take part in language courses, as well as for a ban on burqas.
Baden-Württemberg: popular premier
In Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann (67) has been working since 2011 in a coalition government with the SPD as Germany’s first Green premier. According to a survey, almost two-thirds of the citizens in Baden-Württemberg, including many CDU supporters, say Mr Kretschmann is ‘very popular’. Chances for his SPD challenger, Nils Schmid, are considered slim. The CDU with their candidate Guido Wolf (54) wants to put an end to the red-green government in this federal state. Mr Wolf, a former judge, takes a similar position to that of Julia Klöckner on the question of refugees.
Saxony-Anhalt: unpredictable AfD
Germany is waiting with bated breath for the election results in Saxony-Anhalt where forecasts are predicting as much as 17 per cent for the AfD (Alternative for Germany), which advocates anti-refugee politics. The present premier is Reiner Haseloff (CDU) who is governing in coalition with the SPD. Current surveys continue to rank the CDU ahead of The Left Party. The SPD and AfD are competing for third place. The Greens also have a chance of entering parliament, whereas the FDP seems unlikely to overcome the 5 per cent hurdle. The political scientist and professor in Halle, Everhard Holtmann, attributes the rising popularity of the AfD to the increase in protest voters who are dissatisfied with policies surrounding refugees.
