Minister of Education and Family Affairs Karin Prien Criticizes Party Behavior in Election Campaign
In a recent interview, Karin Prien, the newly appointed Minister of Education and Family Affairs, reflected on the behavior of parties during the election campaign, including her own party’s actions. Prien, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed disappointment with the overall tone of the campaign, stating that it did not contribute positively to society.
The minister also addressed the controversy surrounding the CDU’s five-point plan, which was passed in the Bundestag with the support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Prien, who was a vocal supporter of the plan, acknowledged that the CDU bore responsibility for the vote. She had previously expressed reservations about the plan, stating that she would have preferred it if the plan, which she still supports, had been presented to the Bundestag without the support of the AfD.
Prien criticized the increasing polarization in the weeks leading up to the election, stating that all parties, including those on the left, shared responsibility for the situation. She also expressed a critical view of her party’s leadership, having initially chosen to keep quiet in the face of provocative statements made by her party’s chairman, Friedrich Merz. However, Prien said she eventually came to believe that Merz was the better candidate for chancellor and felt it was her duty to support him, even if she disagreed with some of his views.