The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is escalating its campaign rhetoric against Cem Özdemir, the Green Party’s candidate for Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, just two months before the state election. The intensified attacks signal a strategic pivot by the CDU, despite consistently leading in opinion polls.
Steffen Bilger, Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and chairman of the large North Württemberg CDU district, launched a scathing critique of Özdemir in an interview with “Tagesspiegel”, accusing him of being a “failed minister” from the previous coalition government with “nothing to show for it”. Bilger further questioned Özdemir’s consistency, claiming his campaign messaging diverges significantly from his previous positions and those of his party. This suggests an attempt by the CDU to portray Özdemir as opportunistic and lacking authenticity.
While the CDU maintains a comfortable lead over both the AfD and the Greens in statewide polls, Özdemir remains the preferred candidate in head-to-head comparisons against the CDU’s Manuel Hagel, the prospective successor to the current Green Minister President, Winfried Kretschmann. This presents a crucial challenge for the CDU, requiring a shift in strategy to bridge the gap between overall polling data and individual candidate preference.
Bilger’s remarks also served to highlight Özdemir’s relative lack of experience compared to Hagel, who at 37, faces a 60-year-old rival. He asserted that Hagel’s experience as parliamentary group leader in the Green-CDU coalition demonstrates his contribution to a stable and productive government, implicitly contrasting it with Özdemir’s perceived shortcomings. Critically, Bilger suggested that Baden-Württemberg requires “new momentum” at the helm of government, possibly alluding to a sense of stagnation perceived under the current administration. This positioning allows the CDU to present Hagel as a refreshing alternative capable of revitalizing the state’s leadership, while simultaneously undermining Özdemir’s credentials and questioning the Green’s vision for Baden-Württemberg’s future. The escalating rhetoric signals a fiercely contested election campaign and a potentially defining moment for the political landscape of the state.