The former mayor of Au would like to move into the Bundestag: Karl Ecker has now presented his route, which consists of six points.
District - There was a lot of advance praise: Benno Zierer described him as "a free voter par excellence, to whom arrogance is completely alien".
Maria Scharlach attested that he had experience with people and authorities and was “very proud” of him.
The one so honored was Karl Ecker, Bundestag candidate of the FW in constituency 214. He outlined on Monday during a press conference the topics that he has planned for the election campaign and then in Berlin.
And there were many.
Many many.
One thing is important to Ecker, one thing he repeats over and over again: He wants to get “close to the people”.
Because the contact with citizens and authorities - that is what he now wants to bring to Berlin after 37 years in local politics and after 24 years as ex-mayor of Au.
Ecker's election campaign consists of six points
If he were elected Member of the Bundestag in eleven weeks, he would show presence in Berlin and in the constituency, “listen to the citizens”, inform people here more often, in short: “no longer cultivate a new culture of discussion from top to bottom” .
And he would fight to reduce red tape.
Because: "Local political expertise is my greatest asset."
Three “future topics” stand above all: coping with the consequences of the corona pandemic (including the planning now for a possible fourth wave), climate protection and digitization.
Ecker also picked out “six big topics” for himself and his political work in the federal capital, as he explained.
First of all, there is “the focus on people”.
Ecker means improvements in the health, care and pension system, wants to close the gap between rich and poor again and vigorously advocates the FW line “Pension at 68 - not with us!” Ecker is also about regional value creation Agriculture (“Talk to the farmers, not about them”), he wants to strengthen the appreciation for local products.
FW candidate also wants to strengthen voluntary work
Third point: climate, environmental and nature protection.
He and the Free Voters are “well positioned”, emphasizes Ecker, the issue must of course be tackled in a “socially acceptable” manner.
The switch to renewable energies can only succeed “in harmony with the citizens”, and local authorities need to be strengthened.
What is also important to Ecker: a solid financial and fair tax policy.
It annoys him immensely, for example, with what "arrogance" one dealt with the toll disaster of Andreas Scheuer.
Fifth main topic: "Shaping the digital age".
And finally, maintaining and strengthening the volunteer culture is important to the man from Au.
He and the FW, for example, have in mind that you will receive additional pension points for long voluntary work.
If it is not enough?
Then it was "a valuable experience"
The election campaign - although Ecker prefers to speak of a "competition" - is a lot of work, but also "a lot of fun", says the FW candidate.
He wanted to introduce himself to all 50 municipalities in constituency 214 - even in Au, where he was mayor for 24 years.
There will also be bike tours across the constituency.
Ecker emphasizes that his election campaign budget is “very tight”, after all, he is spending these weeks almost entirely from “own resources”, only a little financial support comes from the FW district and local associations.
He didn't want it any other way because he didn't want to be obliged to anyone, said Ecker on Monday.
And if the much-talked-about suitcase to Berlin does not work out, then at least it was “a valuable experience”.
Also read:
For the third time in a row, celebrants have left the Freising Forest as a garbage dump. The volunteers who take care of the area draw the consequences.
Three women emptied a farm shop without paying. Then she obviously had a bad conscience - and there was a very lazy excuse. Now the police are investigating.
Freising youths were physically attacked on Christopher Street Day in Munich. The occasion was a rainbow flag.