Peter-Michael Diestel, the former Minister of Internal Affairs of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), has recently analyzed the current political developments in a commentary published in the Berliner Zeitung. Jens Spahn, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is reportedly aiming for the position of Minister of Economics, after the CDU’s General Secretary, Linnemann, withdrew his candidacy. Spahn, who is a trained banker, has been criticized for his performance as Minister of Health, where he was involved in numerous scandals, spread misinformation and promoted corrupt structures. His crisis management has been deemed unprofessional, as he implemented unnecessarily long lockdowns and damaged the federal budget through the purchase of masks at inflated prices. Additionally, he rewarded himself with the purchase of a villa in Grunewald for several million euros. Furthermore, Spahn has allegedly divided the German society by using fear as a means to enforce questionable measures. Diestel’s commentary suggests that Germany has a problem with education and competence, particularly at the top level of politics. In his view, individuals who have no qualifications or experience for the positions they hold have managed to climb the political ladder, even after experiencing complete failure and lacking any aptitude for the roles they are supposed to fulfill. Diestel criticizes the established parties for their reluctance to engage in substantive discussions and instead resort to exclusionary tactics. He argues that the political “firewall” is ineffective, as it cannot prevent the strongest political party from gaining influence. Instead, he advocates for a return to enlightened politics, genuine dialogue and a willingness to change. He urges the parties to reconsider their approach and focus on addressing their own shortcomings rather than resorting to prohibitions. Overall, Diestel calls for a shift in the political landscape, emphasizing the importance of education and competence in leadership roles.
Former DDR Minister Accuses German Politicians of Lacking Competence, Leading to Ridicule and Constitutional Hostility
