Markus Söder rarely puts someone else in the spotlight than himself.
The next big government declaration on Corona will be delegated by the new Health Minister Klaus Holetschek.
Klaus Holetschek
is the successor to Health Minister Melanie Hulm.
He and
Markus Söder
already know each other from the
Junge Union
.
The
healthcare sector is
looking forward to Holetschek.
Munich -
Klaus Holetschek
(CSU) was just seven weeks as
State Secretary in the Ministry of Health
, when he drew a comparison from aviation.
In order to support the criticized minister
Melanie Huml
(CSU),
Markus Söder
had just transferred
him
from the building ministry to her house.
So Holetschek was sitting in his new office and verbally explained that he saw himself as Huml's “co-pilot”.
A picture that he might have pinched if he had already known at the time that the Prime Minister would soon go over to the
corona death numbers in plane crashes
to convert.
But Holetschek could not have suspected that in October.
And certainly not that Söder would take the helm three months later.
At the beginning of January, on Epiphany, Söder announced almost casually that
Holetschek will head the ministry with immediate
effect and that Huml will be responsible for European issues in the State Chancellery.
Today, just three weeks later, the new minister is even supposed to deliver his first government statement.
A high-profile task that
Söder
had always performed himself
in the Corona times
.
Söder's new health minister: Klaus Holetschek replaced Melanie Huml who had been criticized
For Holetschek, who a year ago was only known to selected Bavarians, this is a steep climb.
But neither does it come completely out of nowhere.
The 56-year-old is no stranger to
health policy
in
particular
- which is where he feels at home.
In addition, Holetschek, member of the state parliament, is unusually well wired in his parliamentary group.
When he was appointed to the cabinet,
honest applause broke out
among the
CSU
MPs, participants report.
In a body in which at least 80 people consider themselves to be a better State Secretary - internal and external assessments differ - this is unusual.
Holetschek
built up
his network
diligently and without airs
.
“Do more, talk less,” they say about him.
A trait that
Söder
also
seems to appreciate.
You know each other well from the Junge Union.
In the 80s, when Söder Strauss's poster was hanging over his bed, Holetschek was a JU functionary in Swabia, for an eternity until 2001. The contact was maintained when Holetschek briefly became a backbencher in the Bundestag and then
mayor of Bad Wörishofen
, not a cosmopolitan city either .
Now in the cabinet, Söder appreciates him because the new minister processes orders without complaining.
Not that you openly deny Söder wishes, but some ministers sit out after several rounds with questioners.
And what counts in politics as a powerhouse: Holetschek is not so charismatic that he could be dangerous to Söder.
Even if it's enough to show something in a medium gray cabinet.
Klaus Holetschek: First impression seems positive - he and Markus Söder know each other from the Junge Union
In the
health sector
, many want to wait a little longer to see what the new minister will bring, but the first impression here also seems largely positive.
“Pragmatic”, “solution-oriented”, “high rate” - these are attributes that those who have already dealt with him ascribed to him.
In the
fall,
the
Bavarian health insurance companies
also recognized with appreciation that the
then State Secretary Holetschek was
already
holding
talks in his first few weeks, which Minister Huml had long been asked for in vain.
But there is also skepticism in the industry.
Traces of actionism can be seen here and there, they say.
It is also eager to see how well Holetschek
tackles
systemic problems such as the
shortage of skilled workers in nursing
.
Some have their doubts.
Waiting tones also come from the opposition.
"Let's see how he develops in the new office," says
Green Party leader Katharina Schulze
.
"The health authorities, the protection of vulnerable groups and a better vaccination strategy" - Holetschek must get these construction sites under control.
If he doesn't succeed, turbulence quickly threatens in these times.
(Christian Deutschländer and Sebastian Horsch)
Shops, restaurants and schools will be closed until at least mid-February.
What's next after that?
The demand of a virologist is clear: a quick end to the corona lockdown.