Hamburg: Tschentscher wants to shake off the SPD federal result

One day before the citizens’ choice in Hamburg, Mayor Peter Tschentscher is optimistic that he can shake off the bad result of his SPD in the Bundestag election. “There is always an influence on state policy decisions if the federal political situation is so complicated and difficult for us,” said Tschentscher of the dpa news agency.

Nevertheless, the people in Hamburg honored that the city had come through the recent crises under red-green. “So far we have red-green majorities in all surveys,” said Tschenscher. “Now I do not know whether there is a problem at the last moment due to the influence of the Bundestag election or by strengthening the left, but so far it has not looked like it.”

The Greens are “a good strategic partner for the SPD,” said Hamburg’s first mayor. “We would like to be a little stronger. We think that in some topics we have to check the Greens a little more, as I call it.”

However, Tschentscher does not rule out that a coalition with the CDU could also be interesting for his desired partner. “The risk may not be high, but it exists: If the CDU and Greens have a majority, then you would choose this option. I’m very sure.”

He rates as a strategy that CDU top candidate Dennis Thering has spoken out against working with the Greens in the past few days. “Of course, this is very strongly rhetorical and not really convinced.”

Thering meanwhile extends the hand towards the SPD. He hopes that his CDU will move past the Greens in the election and thus move into the citizens as the second strongest force. “We have a good chance of lying in front – let’s see what is still going up,” he said. “We are very popular, especially in the last days after the Bundestag election.” The aim of the CDU is to “send the Greens to the opposition”.

The Greens top candidate and second mayor Katharina Fegebank wants to prevent a red-black alliance in the Hanseatic city. “If we don’t want to wake up here in a standstill groko here in Hamburg tomorrow evening, then all your strength has to be mobilized again,” she said on the edge of an campaign campaign.

After the Bundestag election, an exhaustion could be felt in the city. “The double winter election campaign not only demands some of our campaigners, but also demands a lot from the Hamburgers,” said Fegebank. Some people would have to be motivated to participate in the choice of citizenship at all.

She hopes to reach undecided and change voters. “I also notice that one or the other can be convinced in the conversations – because then there is a high level of satisfaction with the Senate in the combination in which we rule here.”

On the last day of the election campaign, the top candidates with actions in different districts once again promoted votes. Tschents distributed red roses for his SPD in Winterhude, and there were homemade cakes at the CDU campaign stand on the Langenhorner Markt. In the evening, last dates were waiting for Tschenscher, Thering and Fegebank.

The top candidates want to start with more calm on the election Sunday. “First of all, I enjoy sleeping in tomorrow and drinking my cappuccino in peace,” said Mayor Tschenscher. CDU candidate Thering announced that he is looking forward to breakfast with his daughter and a walk with the dog. “So very relaxed – from tomorrow we can no longer influence it anyway.”

Green candidate Febank also wants to spend the day with her children. In the morning, all three candidates will also hand in their voices.

Almost 1.3 million Hamburgers are called on Sunday to choose a new citizen. According to surveys, the SPD is clearly ahead despite losses. This is followed by the CDU and the Greens. As with the Bundestag election last Sunday, the left and the AfD can have hopes for voices.