Ralph Brinkhaus: "There are more important topics than refugee policy"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Some Christian Democrats are worried that the CDU will soon elect a new member to the summit – but will be split in two. You too?

Brinkhaus: The CDU is rediscovering a little. There is a lively discussion in the party. Members think it's great to choose from several candidates for Angela Merkel's succession to the party leadership. The positive atmosphere will continue after the party congress. I am on All members of the CDU will say to themselves: "The elections are over, we are considering now." So it was after my election as leader of the parliamentary group.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: So easy?

Brinkhaus: Of course, defeated candidates and their followers will initially be disappointed. But everyone knows that only one CDU will perform well next year in the European elections, the four-state elections and the many local elections. Closure counts in this election year. With controversy, we do not convince voters. We must do everything in our power to gain momentum now and postpone it until next year. Current polls are anything but good. The new party leader or party leader also noted the atmosphere within the party at regional conferences. Anyone who is elected is well advised to take this mood and take the supporters of the losers.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Finally, the tone between the candidates has become clearer.

Brinkhaus: Everyone tries to profile themselves and sometimes to put one or the other accent. Members also expect positions to be clearly indicated. But I think it remains very harmonious compared to the other parties and in particular to many of these competitions abroad. Mr. Knigge would be satisfied with us.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Do you agree with Friedrich Merz that the CDU has been too forcefully opposed to AFD in the past?

Brinkhaus: Let me put it this way: As a UDC, we should be less concerned about our relations with AFD, but about how to convince people. Here we must begin. We need to talk to citizens about our policies, not about political competition. We have to say with confidence what we all decided recently, for example to improve pensions, care or continuing education in the Bundestag.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Who will you choose in Hamburg?

Brinkhaus: Please leave me this secret. It is not for nothing that every Hamburg delegate will have a small selection booth in front of him. I believe that many delegates will not decide before the party congress. It will come a lot to the day. The discussions at the delegates' meetings before polling day, the opening of the congress, the speeches of the candidates – all this will lead to a very particular momentum. And those who can best use this momentum will probably win too. It will be exciting.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The CDU seems electrified by the ruling triad of the party – was it really so bad before?

Brinkhaus: Not at all. We had very good years. However, members often feel they do not have a say. Now people are in the mood: something moves!

SPIEGEL ONLINE: His surprise election at the head of the faction was a clear sign of the loss of Angela Merkel's authority. Are you jointly responsible for their next departure?

Brinkhaus: My choice clearly had factional reasons. My colleagues wanted a renewal of parliamentary group work. We are on the right path. Who would have thought that after the discussions of recent weeks, we would have reached such a broad agreement in the United Nations Pact on Migration? In the end, there were only five dissenting votes in the group. This is the group's new culture – and it should also join the party in the future. To discuss more, but to reunite him and bind him. This feat must also create the person who will lead the party in the future.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why was it so difficult to convince the faction of the migration pact?

Brinkhaus: The fact is that we started the discussion too late. We must learn from that.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: We have the impression that many members of the Union have forgotten how to deal with complex problems in complex ways – and then, as in the case of the Migration Pact, they are even more disturbed by AfD & Co.'s targeted campaigns.

Brinkhaus: Our MPs are also deeply involved in complex issues. But there is another challenge: Internet campaigns and social media can now be powerful. But we must not let this drive us crazy, but we must be as engaged and intelligent in social media as we are. The pact on migration will not be the last campaign of this type. We will be stronger in the future.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What is the relevance of the issue of asylum / migration for citizens?

Brinkhaus: Refugee policy already interests the citizens. But I think there are many more important topics for citizens: the Kitaplatz for children. Care for the mother. The appointment with the doctor. The connection of my city to the railway. The affordability of the apartment. We are gradually improving the lives of citizens in all these areas. Unfortunately, you can not press a button and take all the concerns immediately. And do not forget the subjects of the future: citizens declare that our lives are changing faster and faster – thanks to digitization, to artificial intelligence. And they wonder what it means for their lives. Also on politics must talk with people!

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Do you think the theme of migration is too high for your party?

Brinkhaus: With regard to migration, there is one thing that bothers people the most: why are evictions so difficult? Especially when it comes to offenders. This raises doubts about the rule of law. This is why it is so important that deportations be carried out as far as possible. But again: I do not want to talk about the subject of migration. Other topics are often more important to people. However, in the Bundestag, we have pbaded laws in recent weeks: there are real crackers like increased child support or children's building money. And we need to talk more about it.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why did not you apply to the party presidency – as a kind of walk?

Brinkhaus: I have enough work as a group leader, it's a big job. I really want to do it.

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