Young politicians: they will continue to listen to these politicians under 30 in 2021

The boys get into position. With Fridays For Future, the largest youth movement in modern times has been lobbying politics for several years, and now more and more young women and men are also pushing for political office.

The Bundestag desperately needed a new cell cure. Only 23 of the total 709 MPs were 30 years old or younger at the start of the legislative term in October 2017, a proportion of 3.2 percent. Although the age distribution has approached somewhat the situation of the population in recent decades, the young generation is still clearly under-represented in the Bundestag. Compared to the total population, a good third of Germany’s population is 30 years old or younger.

But something is happening, even if generational change does not necessarily mean a flood of young people for parliamentary seats: some prefer to get involved in local politics, others work mainly online.

Here are five talents that could become important in 2021.

Lilly blaudszun (SPD)

19 years old, from Frankfurt (Oder)

She does not hold any political office, but many within the SPD will listen to her next year: Lilly Blaudszun will advise party leaders in the 2021 federal election campaign. Her main competence: political influence.

The law student has long become a contemporary model: young, female, East German, and well connected. Almost 31,000 people follow her on Twitter and 16,500 on Instagram. SPD leaders regularly pose for selfies with Blaudszun. He wrote about a photo with the candidate for chancellor Olaf Scholz: “I present to you: the sweetest image there is of Olaf Scholz.”

Among the social fluff, there is always room for politics. Blaudszun fights against climate change and for fair educational opportunities, he would like to see the East improved. It should be a conscious statement that the Mecklenburg native didn’t “do it” to study.

All in all, it’s time for a generational change, says Blaudszun. In the crown crisis, the Bundestag would have discussed everything possible, but not about the young. His generation would be concerned about who will one day pay the billions of aid. “Politicians should finally meet the young generation on an equal footing and let them have a voice.”

Marco Boehme (The left)

30 years old, from Leipzig

The year of the crown pandemic showed him “that if you really want something political, it is also possible,” says Böhme. Time and time again, rulers had talked about why money or laws were not possible here or there: in the crisis of the crown, action was suddenly taken quickly and decisively. “I would like the same for other urgent challenges, such as the fight against climate change or poverty in Germany.”

Marco Böhme has worked his way into the Saxon Left Party for the last twelve years, from the Leipzig Youth Left to the mandate of the state parliament in 2014 and vice chairman of the parliamentary group since 2017. He is a member of the climate and economy committee , participates in environmental associations and, not without controversy, in »Ende Terreno.” In 2016, a CDU member reprimanded him as a “terrorist” because Böhme had participated in the occupation of the roads in Lusatia.

The leftist politician responds that his party is “the only constructive opposition left” in the Free State. The CDU has repressed Saxony “in its own right” for the past 30 years, whether in view of slow climate policy, rampant riots on the right, or democracy and civil associations, “dying of thirst on the long arm of the finance Minister”.

His wish for 2021: The Free State should look a little more like his hometown, Leipzig. If you like, the city does not belong to Saxony at all, “but it could be a good role model.”

Lilli fischer (CDU)

20 years old, from Erfurt

The CDU is represented in the Erfurt city hall with ten officials, six of whom are under 40 years of age. By far the youngest: Lilli Fischer. The Erfurt native was only 19 years old when she became deputy leader of the parliamentary group at the town hall. It experienced its first political upheaval just a year later.

The election of the FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich as prime minister with the votes of the CDU and the AfD in the Thuringian state parliament triggered a government crisis, Fischer was there very closely as a member of the CDU. “I have learned how important stability is to my homeland,” Fischer says today. “And what a pioneer it is to put the interests of the parties in the background for the good of the country.” Now there is another state election in Thuringia, and Fischer hopes the election campaign will be as short and intense as possible.

The student teacher is a CDU politician from start to finish, active in the Junge Union and RCDS, has a scholarship from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and supports Norbert Röttgen in the fight for party leadership. In addition to politics, he participates in carnivals and honorary positions. His Instagram profile has the keywords: »Politics. Carnival. Love for home. ‘Lilli Fischer can hardly be described more succinctly and precisely.

For her it is important to be noticed for her political work. The fact that older politicians base their competence solely on age is an embarrassment to the younger generation: “Young politicians have to move up to gain experience.” Fischer himself focuses primarily on education and family policy.

Ria Schröder (PDF)

28 years old, from Hamburg

Ria Schröder discovered her love for the FDP during one of its worst crises, when the party was unable 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 quick career in the FDP. For two and a half years she was president of the Young Liberals, and since 2019 she has been an advisor to the federal executive committee of the FDP. Like many of her generation, Schröder is concerned about the climate crisis and the opinion of young people. As president of JuLi, she had asked for the voting age to be lowered to 16 years and, as a member of the “Youth Pension Commission”, she advocated for a review of the pension plan.

The crown of all things pandemic showed him that a better union is possible: “2020 showed me that our society is much more considerate and shows 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 fueling downward fears,” Schröder wants to make 2021 the “year of opportunity.”

What is it supposed to be? A nationwide 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 plans.

Hanna Steinmüller (Green)

27 years old, from Berlin

The super election year 2021 began for Hanna Steinmüller in October. The young politician became a direct candidate of the Greens for the Berlin-Mitte constituency and wants to move to the Bundestag next fall. The 27-year-old won with 154 of 190 votes against former Bundestag member Ö then Mutlu, who was almost twice his age.

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 he is a member of the district assembly and spokesperson for climate protection there.