Comment: A plan for Bavaria – and against tiredness about the future

Congratulations to Nuremberg! If everything goes smoothly, the people of Nuremberg will soon board the university, only to leave their magnetic levitation train at the hospital ten minutes later (or so). That’s perhaps how Edmund Stoiber would have put it. His Transrapid speech from 2002 is historic for linguistic reasons. Markus Söder’s 21st government declaration could prove to be historic for political reasons. A magnetic levitation train for Nuremberg is a massive announcement. If it is actually built, it will – next announcement – ​​drive to the first German AI university. And somewhere – third announcement – a Bavarian test center for rocket engines will be built at some point.

Söder’s chutzpah is impressive

Some things are impressive about this: the chutzpah with which Söder pampers his hometown. The indefatigability with which this Prime Minister defies the widespread weariness of the future. The persistence with which he refines the high-tech plans for Bavaria.

During the election campaign, Markus Söder hardly dutifully mentioned his high-tech agenda, knowing that it would not get anyone off the bench in beer tents. In the new coalition agreement between the CSU and Free Voters, “Science and Research” landed in the middle. Now, in his government statement, Söder put his high-tech ideas at the forefront – as surprising as they were convincing. Because the widespread tiredness of the future will not prevent the future. In this respect, Söder and his government are setting the right focus.

A small step for Nuremberg, a big step for Bavaria

Of course, you can make fun of Söder’s preference for grandiose-sounding names: “Franconian University of Artificial Intelligence” for Nuremberg’s AI university. Or “Houston Germany” for the Oberpfaffenhofen space control center. But such mockery carries the danger of distracting from the essence of the ideas. That would be a shame because they represent a great opportunity. For Söder himself, who can show that he has projects close to his heart that he is not prepared to sacrifice to the change in public opinion. And they are ideas for the country: If they are implemented, they would be a small step for Nuremberg. And a big one for Bavaria.