SPD relies on Faeser: Will she be Hesse's first female Prime Minister?

SPD relies on Faeser: Will she be Hesse's first female Prime Minister?

Wiesbaden is dominated by political preparations, as the Hessian SPD presents its list of candidates for the upcoming federal election. Among the applicants is none other than Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who is supported by around 350 delegates in Gießen-Allendorf today. The SPD has an important base with 15 MPs currently sitting in the Bundestag, but the country is suffering from a significant deficit in the polls for the CDU's top candidate, Boris Rhein. In order to preserve the hope of a top place on the list for Faeser, who does not yet have a Bundestag mandate, her party is hoping for a strong presence, as it achieved a disastrous result in the recent state elections in October 2023.

Nancy Faeser, who as the SPD's top candidate was originally aiming for the prime ministership, has made a name for herself as a "passionate politician" since she entered the Hessian state parliament in 2003. Born in Bad Soden and raised in Schwalbach am Taunus, she has always been committed to her homeland. Faeser was previously general secretary of her party and is considered conservative with close ties to the Hessian police. Their goal is to bring the SPD back into the spotlight after years of political insignificance in order to finally break the decades-long CDU hegemony in Hesse. If she wins the election, she could become the first woman to lead the country hessenschau.de reported.

A challenging election campaign

In the run-up to the federal election on February 23rd, Faeser now has to master the challenge of balancing two brilliant offices - both as Federal Minister of the Interior and as the SPD's top candidate in Hesse. The focus is particularly on their role in combating right-wing extremism. Their votes could be crucial in enabling the SPD to make a comeback as pressure from the CDU mounted. A committed campaign could be the key to a stronger presence at the state level while maintaining sovereignty over the country's security situation. However, the dual roles also raise concerns about whether she can provide the focus and attention required to meet the demands of both positions, which is seen by political competitors such as Green Party leader Mathias Wagner.

The SPD's success in the upcoming election could depend heavily on how well Faeser handles her dual role and whether she can convince voters of the need for change in Hesse. How sueddeutsche.de reports, it remains to be seen whether her strategy will work and whether she will be able to win over voters.