Background

adminonNovember 18, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

– born on 6. May 1946 in Rostock- until 1964 apprenticeship at the Reichsbahn, then signalman and dispatcher- from 1969 to 1974 theology studies with diploma- 1974 to 1990 parish priest in the East Saxon Oybin and student priest in Zittau- from May 1990 District Administrator of Zittau, since October 1990 CDU member- in September 1991 change to Saxon state government as Minister of the Interior under Minister President Kurt Biedenkopf- since December 1991 deputy CDU state chairman under party leader Biedenkopf- since October 1992 deputy CDU federal chairman, among others alongside Angela Merkel under party leader Helmut Kohl- since 1994 directly elected member of the state parliament- resignation from ministerial posts and resignation from his party offices in July 1995 after unproven accusations of sexual harassment by former employees – Eggert denied the accusations, Biedenkopf called her untrustworthy- October 1997 to September 2001 again deputy state leader of the CDU/CSU, now under party leader Fritz Hahle, failed in attempt to be re-elected in 2001- 1997 to 2002 host of the n-tv talk show "Gruner Salon"- considered successful- in the past legislative period chairman of the state parliament commission on "Demographic Development and its Effects" in Saxony- columnist for the Dresden "Morgenpost am Sonntag"- for two years volunteering at a hospice- married, four children

Daniel gunther becomes minister president

Daniel Gunther (CDU) was called a "youngster" or "eternal confirmand" by many media during the election campaign. After his surprise victory, there is no more talk of this. Wednesday he wants to become prime minister.

For a long time, the SPD had led in the polls. The fact that Daniel Gunther and his CDU ultimately won the Schleswig-Holstein state election was a surprise to many people. On Wednesday, the Catholic wants to be elected prime minister of Germany's northernmost state to lead a "Jamaica coalition" of CDU, Greens and FDP.

Together, the partners have 44 of 77 seats in the state parliament and thus a stable majority. However, "Jamaica coalitions" are considered unstable, as the only example so far in Saarland has shown, and as also became clear during the Kiel coalition negotiations:

Because the Greens and FDP could not agree on economic and transport policy, they almost came to a standstill. But now everything is back in perfect order, according to reports from the state capital.

The only professing Catholic

A few months ago, Gunther was still largely unknown. With diligence and a determined election campaign, he worked his way to the top of the country. The 43-year-old political scientist has a classic CDU career behind him, was district chairman of the Junge Union, and later local chairman. In 2009, he moved into the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament, where he took over as parliamentary group chairman in 2014. He has been CDU state chairman since 2016.

In Kiel's state parliament, Gunther has been the only professing Catholic so far. "Faith is insanely important to me, also in my political work," he once said during the election campaign. In his hometown, he regularly visits the Catholic church.

Commitment to the reference to God in the state constitution

In 2016, he accompanied outgoing Prime Minister Torsten Albig (SPD) on a visit to Pope Francis in Rome. Gunther spoke of a "unique experience" in which he had the picture of a church window from his home parish of Eckernforde blessed by Francis. Also in 2016, he spoke out in favor of including a reference to God in the Schleswig-Holstein state constitution. The plan failed, however, in the state parliament.

For the upcoming legislative period, he and his black-green-yellow alliance have already announced numerous changes – including in school policy. Thus, for the school year

2019/20 the return to the Abitur after nine years is planned. Before the changeover, however, individual high schools can decide once whether they want to stay with the turbo baccalaureate after eight years.

"Jamaica" also stands for better inclusion and relaxed Sunday opening hours

Jamaica also wants to improve on the topic of inclusion: According to the coalition agreement, 70 new special education teachers are to be hired each year until 2024 – a total of 490 new teachers. Existing support centers to be retained. On the labor market, the alliance wants to break new ground and discuss a citizen's income or basic income.

The announcement that Sunday opening hours will be made more flexible is already causing a stir. Unions have already sharply criticized the plan, and the churches are not likely to be pleased either.

With its commitment to "marriage for all," the coalition agreement contains a first: For the first time, a CDU-led state government explicitly supports equal rights for homosexual partnerships. Daniel Gunther had already come out as a supporter of gay marriage in May and obtained a corresponding party congress resolution from the northern CDU party. However, a decision in favor of "marriage for all" would have to be made at the federal level.

Confirmation image discarded

Even as opposition leader, Gunther never missed an opportunity to attack the SPD-led state government. In the election campaign, he once again demonstrated his rhetorical skills. As the future prime minister, he has the chance to put his money where his mouth is. During the election campaign, many media portrayed Gunther as a "youngling" or "eternal confirmand". In the meantime, this image no longer clings to the election winner, especially since a Catholic generally cannot be a confirmand anyway.

It could almost be mistaken for an elegant lectern, were it not for the fact that it also features a card reader as well as a keypad like that of an ATM machine: The electronic offertory is supposed to provide more security and save annoying jangling with small change. Even in the church, cashless payment with debit and credit cards is no longer a taboo subject, as shown by the Cologne church trade fair Ecclesia, which opened on Thursday.

To the 5. For the third time, the exhibition in Hall 3 of Koelnmesse presents everything about religious life and everyday life in places of worship. The offer ranges from fully automatic organ playing help in case of organist shortage, church seat heaters, safes for the church collection, colorful grave lights to special wax stain removers.

Nearly 200 exhibitors at Eccles The target group of Ecclesia includes pastors, sextons and organists, presbyters, church boards and all full-time and voluntary employees of church congregations, who make up around 70 percent of visitors. But the remaining 30 percent is made up of ordinary believers. "We expect that this year, too, we will have visitor numbers of up to 4.000," says the Managing Director of Koelnmesse Ausstellungen GmbH, Sandra Orth, confidently. Nearly 200 companies, institutions and craft businesses from seven countries will offer their services and products this year. The first Ecclesia five years ago, on the other hand, had started with only 50 exhibitors.

Modern technology in old church buildings This year's Ecclesia is all about craftsmanship. Restoration and preservation of historical monuments formed the main focus of the exhibition, says the chief executive of the Cologne Chamber of Crafts, Ortwin Weltrich. The craft provides a significant part of the construction services in the sacred and secular buildings of the churches, emphasizes Weltrich. This starts with the restoration of natural stone facades and extends from the repair of slate and copper roofs to the installation of energy-saving church heating systems. "The craft is thus the service leader of the church," says Weltrich. With mixed forecasts for the construction industry this year, the building trade is dependent on orders from churches, explains Weltrich. According to his figures, the Catholic Church alone spent around 418 million euros on the maintenance and renovation of church buildings, monasteries, schools and hospitals last year. Orders from Catholic housing associations account for another 300 million annually.This year, the Ecclesia is placing special emphasis on cutting-edge technological achievements in old church buildings: There are electronic bell ringing machines, computerized display boards for hymn numbers and tips for parish home page design. Fully automated lighting systems can be programmed before a church service to match the lighting to the occasion, whether it's a wedding, a funeral or a baptism.Even digital gravestones are on offer: instead of the usual engraving, the gravestone from a supplier company in Greven contains a mini-computer with a screen that can show color photos, poems, letters and even videos of the dead person. The manufacturers promise that this will make it possible to look back on a person's life in a more individual and much more expansive way at the cemetery.

New for "colorful priests The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz is also represented at the fair for the first time. Under the motto "Living Museum," a replica of the Gutenberg press will be presented in a medieval atmosphere, demonstrated by printers in period costumes, says Sandra Orth of Koelnmesse Exhibitions.And there's news for colorful priests, too: A manufacturer of church vestments is taking on the colors of the ecclesiastical year this year under the theme "Color Change" and showing how they can be incorporated into the design of vestments. A special show will also be on display: "A special highlight for visitors," promises Sandra Orth.

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