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Photo: Paul Blau, dpa (2) / die Linke / / Paul Blau / dpa (4) / die Linke /
The boys get into position.
With “Fridays For Future”, the largest youth movement of modern times has been putting pressure on politics for a number of years, and now more and more young women and men are also pushing into political office.
The Bundestag desperately needed a fresh cell cure.
Only 23 of the total of 709 MPs were 30 years or younger at the beginning of the legislative period in October 2017 - a share of 3.2 percent.
Although the age distribution has moved somewhat closer to the situation in the population in recent decades, the young generation is still clearly underrepresented in the Bundestag.
Measured against the total population, a good third of the people in Germany are 30 years or younger.
But something is happening - even if the generation change does not necessarily mean a rush of young people for parliamentary seats: Some prefer to be involved in local politics, others mainly work online.
Here are five talents that could become important in 2021.
Lilly Blaudszun
(SPD)
19 years, from Frankfurt (Oder)
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The young SPD politician Lilly Blaudszun
Photo: Jens Büttner / dpa
She does not hold any political office, but many within the SPD will listen to her in the coming years: Lilly Blaudszun will advise the party leadership in the federal election campaign in 2021.
Your core competence: political influencing.
The law student has long since become a contemporary model companion: young, female, East German and well connected.
Almost 31,000 people follow her on Twitter and 16,500 on Instagram.
The SPD leaders regularly pose for selfies with Blaudszun.
She wrote about a photo with Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz: "I present: the sweetest picture that exists of Olaf Scholz."
"It has always been my goal to be taken seriously with my opinion - which I hope will also be that of a broader generation of Generation Z."
Lilly Blaudszun
Between the social fluff, there is always room for politics.
Blaudszun fights against climate change and for fair educational opportunities, she would like to see the East upgraded.
It should be a conscious statement that the native of Mecklenburg did not "make it over" to study.
In general, it is time for a generation change, says Blaudszun.
In the corona crisis, the Bundestag would have discussed everything possible, just not about young people.
Your generation would be worried about who will one day pay for the billions in aid.
"Politicians should finally meet the young generation on an equal footing and let them have a say."
Marco Böhme
(The Left)
30 years, from Leipzig
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Left MP Marco Böhme
Photo: DIE LINKE.
Saxony
The year of the corona pandemic showed him "that if you really want something political, it is also possible," says Böhme.
Again and again, rulers had talked out why money or laws were not possible here or there - in the corona crisis, suddenly action was taken quickly and decisively.
"I would like the same for other urgent challenges - such as combating climate change or poverty in Germany."
Marco Böhme has worked his way up in the Saxon Left Party over the past twelve years, from the Leipzig Left Youth to the state parliament mandate in 2014 and deputy parliamentary group chairman since 2017. He sits on the climate and economic committee, is involved in environmental associations and - not without controversy - at »Ende Terrain".
In 2016 a member of the CDU scolded him as a “terrorist” because Böhme had taken part in occupying the tracks in Lusatia.
»Saxony is meanwhile a failed state - an imposition for democracy, common sense and a progressive life.
I want to change that. "
Marco Boehme
The left-wing politician counters that his party is "the only remaining constructive opposition" in the Free State.
The CDU has ruled Saxony down "self-righteously" over the past 30 years, be it with a view to the sluggish climate policy, rampant right-wing national riots or democracy and civil associations, "which are dying of thirst on the long arm of the finance minister."
His wish for 2021: The Free State should become a little more like his hometown Leipzig.
If you will, the city does not belong to Saxony at all, "but it could be a good role model."
Lilli Fischer
(CDU)
20 years, from Erfurt
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The CDU city councilor Lilli Fischer
Photo: Paul Blau
The CDU is represented in the Erfurt city council with ten officials, six of whom are under 40. By far the youngest: Lilli Fischer.
The Erfurt native was just 19 years old when she became deputy group leader in the city council.
It experienced its first political tremor just a year later.
The election of the FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich as prime minister with CDU and AfD votes in the Thuringian state parliament triggered a government crisis, Fischer was there as a CDU member.
"I have learned how important stability is for my home country," says Fischer today.
"And how pioneering it is to put party interests on the back burner for the good of the country." Now there is another state election in Thuringia, and Fischer is hoping for the shortest and most intensive election campaign possible.
“The pandemic shouldn't be a campaign issue.
I think that we are, quite rightly, talking about climate protection and climate change. "
Lilli Fischer
The student teacher is a CDU politician through and through, active in the Junge Union and the RCDS, has a scholarship from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and supports Norbert Röttgen in the fight for party leadership.
Apart from politics, she is involved in carnival and honorary posts.
Her Instagram profile bears the keywords: »Politics.
Carnival.
Love of home. «Lilli Fischer can hardly be described more succinctly and precisely.
It is important to her to be noticed for her political work.
The fact that older politicians base their competence solely on age is a shame for the younger generation: »Young politicians have to move up in order to gain experience.« Fischer himself focuses primarily on education and family policy.
Ria Schröder
(FDP)
28 years, from Hamburg
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The FDP politician Ria Schröder
Photo: Carmen Jaspersen / dpa
Ria Schröder discovered her love for the FDP during one of her worst crises - when the party failed to enter the Bundestag in 2013.
For the then 21-year-old, the FDP was still the party that most closely matched her values: liberal, cosmopolitan, not very conservative.
Since then, Schröder has had a rapid career in the FDP.
She was chairwoman of the Young Liberals for two and a half years and has been an assessor on the FDP federal executive committee since 2019.
Like many of her generation, Schröder is concerned about the climate crisis and the young people's say.
As JuLi chairwoman, she had called for the voting age to be reduced to 16 years, and as a member of the “Young Pension Commission” she advocated a revision of the pension scheme.
"I want to ensure that young people, and especially young women, participate in our democracy, get involved, stand for candidates, and discuss."
Ria Schröder
The corona pandemic of all things proved to her that better togetherness is possible: "2020 showed me that our society is much more considerate and show solidarity than is often claimed."
Politicians can learn a lot from social cohesion: with tough debates on the one hand, but a basic trust in science and facts on the other.
“Instead of encouraging relegation fears,” Schröder wants to make 2021 the “year of opportunity”.
What is that supposed to be?
A comprehensive expansion of digital infrastructure as quickly as possible, a bonus for female entrepreneurs regardless of unemployment and without unnecessary bureaucracy, more digitization in schools.
The only thing missing is the right office for all the plans.
Hanna Steinmüller
(Greens)
27 years, from Berlin
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Green young politician Hanna Steinmüller
Photo: Britta Pedersen / picture alliance
The super election year 2021 began for Hanna Steinmüller in October.
The young politician became a direct candidate for the Greens for the Berlin-Mitte constituency, and she wants to move into the Bundestag next autumn.
The 27-year-old won with 154 of 190 votes against the former member of the Bundestag Özcan Mutlu, who is almost twice as old.
The rise in Berlin's largest Green District Association was rapid: Steinmüller has been with the Greens since 2014 and has been a member of the state board since 2016, where he is responsible for new members and diversity.
Since April 2020 she has been a member of the district assembly and spokesperson for climate protection there.
In addition to the fight against the climate crisis, we must finally ensure that everyone in Germany can participate
Hanna Steinmüller
The climate should also be her topic for 2021.
The climate crisis must be countered "as consistently" as the corona pandemic, says Steinmüller.
"Because what is coming our way will be more drastic and dangerous than anything we are currently experiencing."
Steinmüller is not only taking alarmism from the pandemic: The restrictions have shown that equality and participation are still unfairly distributed in Germany.
Children from poor families are the particular losers of this crisis.
The social scientist wants to fight for a basic child security and better schools and libraries.
She hopes that the Greens will "take over government responsibility and initiate changes" in the autumn.
In order to be there herself, she would have to win her Berlin constituency against the experienced SPD politician Eva Högl.
It would be the first green direct mandate from Mitte.
Icon: The mirror
