Claudia Pechstein: She is no stranger to the CDU

Claudia Pechstein is making headlines again. Not as a former world-class speed skater, but as a public speaker. At the CDU “Principles Convention” on Saturday, she gave a keynote speech that caused a stir – and criticism. For many reasons.

Pechstein, a federal police officer for more than three decades, stepped up to the lectern in uniform. Did the officer violate the principle of moderation and the duty of neutrality? The federal police want to examine the process. Pechstein herself says that she had previously obtained permission from a supervisor. Criticism was particularly sparked by their statements. In her speech, she drew a connection between asylum seekers who have not been deported and people’s sense of security in public transport. She also said children preferred a “traditional family.” “They want mom and dad,” says Pechstein.

It’s not the first time that Pechstein has spoken out about sports – and polarized with her choice of words. When she failed with a claim for damages before the Federal Court of Justice in 2016, she complained: “Every refugee who enters Germany and is registered enjoys legal protection. But we athletes don’t.” Pechstein was wrongly banned for two years for doping in 2009 and wanted to claim loss of earnings – the BGH rejected her claim. She had previously maintained her innocence for years. It was not until 2014 that a medical commission certified that she actually suffered from an extremely rare blood anomaly, which explained the positive doping test.

Claudia Pechstein for the CDU for the federal election

Years later, at the request of the CDU, she stood in the 2021 federal election in the Berlin constituency of Treptow-Köpenick. The capital city union was looking for a prominent face to set a counterpoint to the permanent winner Gregor Gysi. Pechstein was happy to take part.

At the time, she spoke to the about the background of her political commitment. Accordingly, she was inspired by a guiding principle of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl for the Christian Democrats: “Achievement must be worthwhile again”. That is why she also supported the Union in 2004 as an elector in the election for the Federal President, later also actively in federal elections.

As early as May 2021, when the article in question was published, Pechstein described internal security as an important issue. Accordingly, it is one of the everyday problems of many people, she was indirectly quoted by the “Welt am Sonntag”, to have to use public transport without anxious glances to the left and right. “Far too little is said about it,” Pechstein complained. “It should be 100 times more important to us to make improvements here than to think about where to put the next gender asterisk, whether a concert can still be called a German recital or whether we’re still allowed to say Indian chief.”

Pithy words that are very similar to their statements at the CDU convention. In fact, she used the last part of the statement from 2021 almost word for word last Saturday. Only after two years the “Indian Chief” has become the “Gypsy Schnitzel”. She did not convince the electorate in Berlin in 2021: she had no chance against the left star and with 13.5 percent even ended up in third place behind the SPD candidate.

She was more successful as a speed skater. She has had an exceptional career with five Olympic gold medals and eight Olympic appearances. Her sporting triumph was now the subject of criticism at the CDU convention: the fact that she is still German champion at the age of 51 does not speak for her, but against the will to perform of the youngsters.

CDU struggles for basic course

Pechstein’s invitation to the CDU convention was a “common idea of ​​the leadership in preparatory rounds,” said the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus on Monday. Pechstein was invited as a “well-known representative” on the subject of popular sport, according to party headquarters. However, the fact that the ice skater should finally also talk about asylum and family policy can hardly have surprised the management. The Olympian has already attracted attention in the past with controversial statements beyond sports politics, also in connection with refugees.

The party headquarters said they wanted to invite various representatives of civil society so that they could contribute their perspectives. Pechstein undoubtedly did that. However, the CDU is arguing about whether this is an exciting impulse from outside or an unnecessary provocation that is now casting an unpleasant spotlight on the Christian Democrats. In any case, the Pechstein appearance should also fuel the directional dispute in the CDU.

The Christian Democrats are currently struggling to find their basic course, not least at the “Principles Convention” on Saturday – at which Pechstein gave her speech – the content of the party’s realignment after 16 years in government should be discussed. The question of which language the CDU should use to speak is also being debated. Because although the traffic light coalition seems to be using a lot of energy to scare the voters, the CDU cannot benefit from the federal government’s ongoing crisis – while the polls for the AfD are rising.

Some now want to deal with the strengthening of the right-wing populists with a clearer speech, which also relies on “simple messages” (group leader Jens Spahn). Party leader Friedrich Merz said at the convention that the party must also be able to “address problems – sometimes with formulations that not everyone likes”. That was “not immediately to the right”, also “not immediately racist” or “AfD-speak”. Other CDU politicians, on the other hand, are calling for “politics with a heartbeat in the middle” (NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst) and warn that “populist banging on” (Schleswig-Holstein Prime Minister Daniel Günther) will not help the party.

The Christian Democrats are also divided in their assessment of Pechstein’s performance. CDU boss Merz praised this as “brilliant”, the content of the speech was “really interesting” and “also motivated us a bit to continue working in this direction”. Thuringia’s CDU leader Mario Voigt was also enthusiastic. He was “glad that she found clear words at our principle convention,” he wrote on Twitter. That’s what makes a people’s party.

Former Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziére emphasized on ZDF that the CDU is a middle-class party. The center is “rather repelled” by populism, which is neither democratic nor tactically good. Asked about Pechstein’s statements about asylum seekers, the CDU politician said: “I would not have recommended this formulation to her.” Karin Prien, Schleswig-Holstein’s education minister and deputy party leader, praised an “excellent” convention. But: “C. Pechstein should contribute her perspective on sports and volunteering”. Prien apparently did not need any further statements.