It was long The election campaign in Baden-Württemberg was rather dulldry, almost boring. Now, in the last few meters before the state elections, the struggle between the two most promising parties is noticeably escalating – the Greens and the CDU will most likely have to continue to work together in a coalition after the election. In a ZDF survey, both parties were recently tied at 28 percent. As things stand, there are no other coalition options.

Tone significantly sharpened

The tone between the two parties has worsened significantly within a few days against the backdrop of the Greens’ race to catch up. The escalation began with the publication of a video of the CDU top candidate Manuel Hagel by a Green member of the Bundestag.

The clip shows 29-year-old Hagel during an interview in 2018 in which he waxes lyrical about a student’s appearance. Looking back, Hagel calls the statement “crap.”

Green Party lead candidate Cem Özdemir emphasizes that he knew nothing about it. But no one in the CDU believes him. The conservatives see an orchestrated action by the Greens behind this. The CDU had actually declared the AfD to be the main opponent in the election campaign.

Now in the last few meters there is a call for a camp election campaign against the Greens. State Secretary General Tobias Vogt speaks of a “dirty campaign” that “destroys people”. He accuses the Greens of having “lost their moral compass”.

Fuss about another hail video

Another video is currently causing a stir in which Hagel clashes with a teacher during a school visit in front of cameras and incorrectly explains the greenhouse effect to the students – this clip is also being shared thousands of times online. “I’m not a robot now, but a person with completely normal feelings,” the CDU frontman told the Welt broadcaster.

In an interview with the portal “The Pioneer”, Hagel responded to the question of whether it was true that he and his children had received death threats: “Unfortunately, yes – that’s new for us, even as a family. I didn’t know that before.”

The nerves are on edge and the mutual accusations are becoming more and more acute every day. False reports are spread online – and blamed on political opponents.

After an interview, Hagel is given a false quote about CO2-neutral trucks. CDU Agriculture Minister Peter Hauk claims online that the Greens want to ban private cars. This is “fake news,” complains Green Party state leader Lena Schwelling.

Troubled relationship

CDU strategists are now saying that the relationship with the Greens has been massively disrupted. The Greens brought together the left-wing camp about the “defamation and contempt of a person”.

It is difficult to compete against the left-wing mainstream, says one of the state executive committee. The party hears that the pent-up anger and frustration in the Union is at its maximum. There is a long way to go to fill up these trenches after the election. Then you first need “a cooling off week or two”.

And then? If the race is as close as predicted, the two parties would have to negotiate a coalition almost on equal terms. Enormous concessions from the election winner are likely to be inevitable. “No matter who wins, it will be expensive fun,” says CDU circles. Because they are no longer the same Greens as under the outgoing Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann.

Negative campaigning

In view of the tougher election campaign, the political scientist Frank Brettschneider from the University of Hohenheim speaks of “negative campaigning – i.e. making the political opponent look bad.” As a rule, this doesn’t pay off – and especially not in Baden-Württemberg, “since you have to pull yourself together again after the election.”

Michael Wehner from the University of Freiburg is also sure that the Greens and the CDU will find each other very quickly after the election. “They have to, and ultimately they will.” It is clear to everyone involved that the last few meters of the election campaign are about mobilization.

“And of course the best way to mobilize is to distance yourself from your opponent, when you see your competitor not as an enemy, but as an opponent,” says the political scientist.

“Wipe your mouth, carry on.”

Accordingly, like in a boxing match, an uppercut is sometimes given out, but then it has to be forgotten after the fight. “For professional party work, you will wipe your mouth the day after in classic sportsman style, carry on and go into the coalition negotiations.” Both parties have an interest in continuing the coalition that has existed for ten years – “no matter who becomes Prime Minister now”.

In an election campaign that is very oriented towards the top candidates, the debate about political content suffers most. “Such media exaggerations and mudslinging are rather harmful or damaging for the political culture,” says Wehner.