Daniel Günther (CDU), 50, has been head of government of Schleswig-Holstein since 2017. Before that, he was a state minister and a councilor in his hometown of Eckernförde for 16 years.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Mr Günther, everyone agrees that the European election result is a serious defeat for the traffic light coalition. But what do the 30 percent mean for the Union – a success or more of a warning?

Daniel Günther: It is a success that we have become by far the strongest force. However, given the enormous loss of confidence in the traffic light coalition, our goal must be to achieve significantly more than 30 percent in the future.

WELT AM SONNTAG: In East Germany, the AfD has become the strongest party almost across the board. Why is that?

Günther: There are certainly several reasons for this. One of them is obviously the distance in the eastern German states from the political system in Berlin, which many people no longer feel represented by. But of course the frustration with the politics and actions of the federal government also contributes to this. This is even greater in the eastern German states than in the west.

But please don’t misunderstand: In Schleswig-Holstein, the AfD also received more than twelve percent of the vote. In the state elections two years ago, they didn’t even make it into parliament. Overall, that is worrying. We have to admit that we are no longer reaching too many people – in the East as well as in the West.

WELT AM SONNTAG: In your first reaction to the AfD’s success, you called for the established parties to work together more. Isn’t it more the case that the CDU/CSU needs to distance itself more from the traffic light parties if it wants to be successful?

Günther: No, I don’t think that’s the right way to do it. The answer to the strengthening of the fringes must not be for the democratic parties to intensify their disputes among themselves. A large part of the population longs for politicians to act in a more solution-oriented manner. This expectation exists not only of the respective governing parties, but also of the largest opposition party. We should do our part to ensure that our country develops in the right direction in these times of crisis.

WELT AM SONNTAG: The main point of contention at the federal level is whether the debt brake should be relaxed for investments in the economy and support for Ukraine. Your position?

Günther: In principle, it is right and important that we have the debt brake. It forces politicians to set priorities. That will continue to be important in the future. However, we are currently in a situation where it will be important for the state to make significant investments. That is why I am willing to talk about proposals from economic research institutes or the Federation of German Industries, for example…

WELT AM SONNTAG: … who this week called for a special fund, i.e. additional debt, for the state’s economic investments.

Günther: As I said, there are proposals on the table that we should talk about. A crucial point for better economic development, however, will be how we finally give companies more freedom. Much of the frustration potential in our country is caused by the excessive bureaucracy, the considerable lack of trust and the lack of appreciation for our entrepreneurs.

The economy is aware of its need for transformation, and it also has the necessary willingness to change – but it has legitimate doubts as to whether this need for change will be slowed down by the agonizing slowness and excessive regulatory frenzy.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Would you also be in favor of additional special funds for the German armed forces and arms aid for Ukraine?

Günther: We will need additional funds, at the latest after the current special funds have been exhausted, to equip the Bundeswehr as it needs to be in these times. The issue of defense has absolute priority at the moment.

WELT AM SONNTAG: One issue that is clearly driving people towards the AfD is migration. The federal government, the states and the EU have been tinkering with this issue for years. Do you have any idea how to move forward?

Günther: There are no easy solutions to limit migration. Populists promise that, but that is simply a lie. First of all, we should be honest and not tell people fairy tales.

WELT AM SONNTAG: But honesty does not solve the problem.

Günther: The federal and state governments have agreed on measures to limit and control immigration. But implementation is not happening quickly or consistently enough. Checks have been in place again at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland since mid-October, which has significantly reduced the number of illegal immigrants. But more border protection alone is not enough. We need significantly more repatriation and migration agreements. It is half-hearted to send a federal government representative to negotiations. This must be a matter for the boss, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz is called upon to negotiate it. Much more must be done than has been done so far.

We need to return people who are required to leave the country more quickly, we need asylum procedures at the European external border and we need to ensure that people do not even make their way to Europe, for example by having the asylum procedure take place in third countries. I cannot help anyone who has not realised that there is a need for action after the result of the European elections.

WELT AM SONNTAG: On Thursday, the state premiers will meet with the Chancellor once again for the MPK. One of the things agreed was that Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser would present a report on the feasibility of the third-country regulation. Do you believe that this regulation is legally sound?

Günther: Absolutely, otherwise we Christian Democrats would not have supported them.

WELT AM SONNTAG: There are several ways to implement such a third country regulation: directly at the EU borders or in Africa, in countries like Rwanda. Your suggestion?

Günther: We have to discuss this with each other, but it would make sense for the asylum procedures to be completed before people embark on life-threatening journeys to Europe.

WELT AM SONNTAG: After the summer break, elections will be held in three eastern German states. Your party leader Friedrich Merz has already ruled out cooperation with Sahra Wagenknecht’s coalition – at the federal level. What does that mean for the states?

Günther: The most important goal in these elections is to prevent the AfD from taking on government responsibility. We have the potential to provide the prime minister and lead the state government in all three federal states. When people vote for the CDU, they expect that a solid state government will be formed at the end. An election victory is not a wishful thinking, but a mandate from the voters.

WELT AM SONNTAG: So you don’t think it’s a good idea to extend the ban on cooperation with the AfD and the Left Party to the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW)?

Günther: I can only support our Thuringian state chairman Mario Voigt: It is primarily the state associations that have to decide which coalition will be formed in the states after the state elections. That is also how I understood Friedrich Merz.

WELT AM SONNTAG: I wonder if Merz likes to hear that? He is more of a confrontational politician – and the right candidate for chancellor for the Union?

Günther: What does confrontational mean? The parties must be distinguishable, they need different profiles so that voters can choose. In a democracy there must be a competition of ideas. Friedrich Merz is clearly raising the profile of the CDU. He does this very well as party and Union parliamentary group leader.

WELT AM SONNTAG: CSU leader Markus Söder recently said that the CDU is once again debating the best candidate for the chancellorship. Is that true?

Günther: I certainly don’t have as much insight as Markus Söder from the outside. In any case, I haven’t heard anything about such a debate.