State elections on Sunday: NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst does not want to fail like his predecessor and foster father Armin Laschet.
Düsseldorf – Hendrik Wüst focused on the children in the days before the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. The campaigning Prime Minister attended swimming courses for the youngest and a primary school, he met with “his” godchildren in the zoo for publicity – in NRW, the Prime Minister has been the honorary sponsor for multiple births since 2019. As the father of a daughter – born last year – the 46-year-old enjoys the role of the country’s father. A welcome side effect: the performances give Wüst what children, in contrast to the political caste, easily embody: authenticity.
Authenticity is a thing with top political personnel. It is not uncommon for his appearances to look like statements, as smooth as her wardrobe. Wüst is also a perfectionist in this area. Anyone hoping for surprising statements or even emotional outbursts from the Prime Minister in the style of Armin Laschet at official appointments can wait a long time. Wüst is the opposite of his predecessor, he is in a way an anti-Laschet: He speaks in a controlled and factual manner, doesn’t crack jokes in the wrong place and doesn’t rashly answer questions with a simple yes or no – the answer might get on his feet later fall.
Hendrik Wüst: Daughter changes the way you see the world
At a dinner with the press in Düsseldorf, Wüst said that he really enjoyed visiting the Junior University in Wuppertal – another appointment with children. The girls and boys, most of them around the age of ten, were allowed to ask the prime minister questions. Wüst liked the format because he could speak more freely than usual. On the other hand, you have to be careful what you say to the media, says Wüst. The politician provided the latter with a wink – so as not to be misunderstood. But there was a lot of truth in what he said. Wüst is very careful about what he says and how he says it in public.
Back to the kids. In an election campaign video, Wüst describes their protection as one of the foundations of his politics. Wüst’s motivation for doing politics is a – quote – “world in which climate protection, prosperity and social security are reconciled”. The one-year-old daughter Philippa changed his view of the world.
| Born | July 19, 1975 Rhede |
| Political party | CDU |
| Amt | Prime Minister of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2021 |
| previous office | Minister of Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (2017-2021) |
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Hendrik Wüst is still part of the Corona team Caution
At the end of April, the CDU politician visited a family primary school center in Düsseldorf. The 46-year-old takes an hour to do this. The children don’t have to wait long for the “President”, as they call him. Wüst is almost on time. He wears a mask as soon as he gets out of the car. It is unthinkable that, like Laschet, the mask slips under his nose. Wüst – boosted and recovered – is still part of the Corona team Caution. The teachers also wear masks, this is no longer compulsory in school.
Wüst offers a boy his fist as a greeting, just as you do because of Corona. But the boy wants a normal handshake and gets it. What’s it like to be prime minister? Wüst answered the child’s question with reference to a quote from one of his predecessors in office, Peer Steinbrück. “I’m a janitor without a coat who has to take care of everything. Especially when things don’t go well.”
State elections in NRW: things are going well for Hendrik Wüst
For Wüst, things are going so average at the moment. He jumps (in a promotional video) on his bike over the ditch without an accident. But challenger Thomas-Kutschaty is catching up in the polls. The SPD is within striking distance of the CDU, a traffic light coalition against the blacks is possible. Wüst has only been in office since October – that’s not enough for an office bonus. The loud criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz – first because of the Corona, then because of the Ukraine policy – doesn’t help either.
A high-ranking CDU official therefore issued the slogan for a wild campaign final spurt in a small circle: “We’ll send him across the country – wherever and whenever possible.” No sooner said than done. Wüst not only invites to press conferences on Ukraine or the 41st European Basketball Championship in Cologne or gives a speech on Germany’s first homosexual demonstration in Münster. He also attends a swimming course in a bathing center in Krefeld or a school in Düsseldorf. With children he can. “He answered well,” says an elementary school student after the president drove away. (Alexander Schaefer)
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