The previous transport minister of the state was elected to succeed Armin Laschet on Wednesday in a special session of the state parliament with 103 yes-votes. Wüst exceeded the necessary majority of 100 votes in the secret ballot. The vote was eagerly awaited, as the CDU / FDP coalition only has a majority in the state parliament.
The change at the top of the government takes place almost seven months before the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. Laschet, the Union’s candidate for chancellor in the German federal election, has been a member of the Bundestag since Tuesday. The 60-year-old had ruled out a return to NRW – regardless of the outcome of the federal election.
The greatest handicap of the married father of a daughter: Even after years of political activity in NRW in various functions, the 46-year-old from Münsterland is largely unknown even in his home country, according to a survey. His mostly somewhat choppy speeches have not yet made the business liberals a crowd puller.
