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Is he following in the footsteps of his grandfather Helmut Kohl? Johannes Volkmann was elected to the federal executive board at the CDU party conference.
Berlin – The fact that he is the grandson of long-time Chancellor Helmut Kohl will probably always stick with him. Nevertheless, he now wants to make a career in politics himself and remains loyal to the party of his grandfather, who died in 2017. Johannes Volkmann was elected to the CDU federal executive board on Monday after his candidacy and thus holds his first important position in the party.
Johannes Volkmann elected to the CDU federal executive board – Kohl’s grandson hands out against traffic lights
The 27-year-old received 70.1 percent of the valid votes at the CDU federal party conference in Berlin. He is even the youngest member of the CDU party committee. In his 90-second application speech, Volkmann didn’t mention his famous grandfather’s name once. Like many party colleagues these days, he also spoke out against the traffic light to great applause: it “no longer has anything to offer my generation, except perhaps cannabis,” he shouted. “That’s why the traffic lights have to go.” The CDU board must “set the course so that young people can look forward to the future again.”
Volkmann also sharply criticized Chancellor Scholz and his refusal to provide Ukraine with long-range German Taurus cruise missiles in a statement to the German Press Agency (dpa). “Unfortunately, Scholz doesn’t have the format [dem früheren SPD-Kanzler] Helmut Schmidt shown. But he was too hesitant and too slow when making all his decisions, and in doing so he destroyed a lot of trust with our partners in Eastern Europe.”
Kohl’s grandson Volkmann wants to pursue his own CDU career: “My grandfather has been dead for seven years now”
Dem Mirror Volkmann said a few days ago that he wanted to be judged for his achievements and not for his family background. “I don’t claim anything positive from my grandfather, but then I don’t want anything negative either,” said Volkmann. When asked by dpa whether he saw his famous grandfather Helmut as more of a burden or an opportunity for his own life plan, he replied: “My grandfather has been dead for seven years now. The topic doesn’t play a big role in my everyday life. But of course his political values live on.”
Kohl’s “commitment to a united Europe and a strong West are values and beliefs that I share.” Volkmann is relaxed about possible accusations that he was only elected to the CDU board because of his grandfather: “The delegates elect people, not family relationships.” He hopes that his content can convince people.
CDU federal executive Volkmann wants to make politics for the younger generation
When asked why he wanted to enter federal politics, he said: “Politics is my answer to the question of meaning. I enjoy it.” He got the impression that he could make a difference at the local level. “I would like to bring in the perspectives of my generation at the federal level.” In this way, he wants to renew the promise of prosperity of the social market economy for his generation. Many his age now wanted to start a family and buy their own home, only to realize they couldn’t afford it. This has a lot to do with the fact that middle incomes are taxed very high in Germany – and “that we still have a property transfer tax for young families, for example”. This must change. “The CDU must become an advocate for young people,” demanded Volkmann.
After studying economics, political science and sociology and studying in China and Great Britain, Volkmann works as office manager in the European Parliament for the CDU MP Sven Simon. He is the district council chairman in the Lahn-Dill district and has also been chairman of the CDU Lahn-Dill since February.
Volkmann’s father Walter Kohl said this Mirror, he was a “big supporter” of his son, even if he initially hesitated with his decision to pursue a career as a politician. But he sees in his son “a good understanding of the dark side of politics,” said Kohl. (md with AFP, dpa)
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