Klaus Holetschek on the nursing emergency, debureaucratization, social issues

Since the Bavarian state elections in 2023, Holetschek has led the CSU parliamentary group in the Maximilianeum – since then, he has been heard from much less in public.

Holetschek has become more powerful as a result of his job change. Nothing can be done against him and his party in Bavaria; even Markus Söder is dependent on him. Against this background, it is worth speaking to Holetschek about the most pressing issues at state and federal level – to find out more about his positions and assessments.

From state health minister to generalist at the head of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bavarian state parliament: Do you miss Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and the argumentative duels with him?

Missing him would be an exaggeration. But we did keep texting each other – and he once wrote that he missed me because he had always appreciated the way he dealt with me. We argued hard about the issue, but it was always fair. Of course, I still criticize his failed hospital reform and the legalization of cannabis. We are on the wrong path in health policy at the federal level. That’s why it’s a good thing if the federal government stops governing as soon as possible – and a different federal health minister is in place.

Let’s stay with health policy for a bit as an essential component of public services: “It’s now five past twelve in nursing” – that’s what you said in a Main-Echo interview in July 2022. Little has improved since then. What is your CSU doing at 20 past twelve to prevent a nursing collapse?

Care is actually the central issue. We have tried to get a few things moving: I am thinking of the pool of substitutes, for which we have invested money. This can make working conditions more reliable. I am thinking of projects to reduce bureaucracy, where we are close to completing a model project to better integrate the care home supervision and medical services. We are trying to do it with lots of small steps, because more is not possible in the Free State.

Why?

Because we need a major care reform, but it can only be done in Berlin. Social legislation is made by the federal government. But we must continue consistently down our path: We have launched Federal Council initiatives for tax-free salary components in care. The message from the nursing staff to us is clear: they need less bureaucracy, they want reliable working conditions. We have taken the first important steps in Bavaria – now the federal government must follow suit.

It’s not just nursing staff that are lacking – there are also family doctors, pediatricians, rheumatologists, cardiologists, midwives, physiotherapists? Every Bavarian experiences this shortage in the healthcare system. Where are the political answers for tangible improvements?

We need to look at the whole system from scratch: The system is extremely complex, but in the end the questions are pretty clear from the perspective of those affected. As a typical example, let’s take the fact that people ask their doctor or therapist for an appointment in vain. Of course, we could refer to the responsibilities of the associations of statutory health insurance physicians or other parts of the self-administration – but that doesn’t help anyone. The responsibilities are of no interest to anyone, and rightly so. People want reliability in our health system – and that is exactly what they are missing.

What can politics actually do here?

As a state, we need to take certain things back so that we can have a direct influence. And we need to define what it is worth to us to have things. Our health system is still completely misaligned, and far too little is being done in terms of prevention. We need to invest much more in preventing illness in order to relieve the burden on the system. My message is: If everyone involved pulls together, we can improve things step by step – but everyone has to want that.

Please give an example.

Think about hospital planning: We need to set up a new process here: from the emergency services to the general practitioners, to the health insurance companies, to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians and to the hospital operators, everyone must work together to redefine and align care in a region. There is no room for egoism.

Her successor in the Ministry of Health is Judith Gerlach from Weibersbrunn in the Aschaffenburg district – is she setting the right priorities?

Yes. I think Judith Gerlach is doing a fantastic job. I am very happy that she is my successor. In the coalition negotiations, I was very committed to keeping the Ministry of Health under the CSU. Of course, Judith Gerlach has a different view on some issues. She comes from the digital world, which is a good thing. Digitalization plays a huge role in the health care system when I think of health care research or reducing bureaucracy. And the most important focus for Judith Gerlach is setting goals.

What do you mean by that?

Hospital reform is the central issue at the moment. We have just had the first reading in the Bundestag; it will then go to the Bundesrat, and probably also to the mediation committee between the federal government and the states. We still need to make changes here so that we get a good reform and do not have to experience further hospital closures in the run-up to cold structural change.

You became the leader of the CSU parliamentary group because you are seen as loyal and a strong leader: you are supposed to cover Prime Minister Markus Söder’s back and keep the shop together. Why is the CSU parliamentary group so difficult to lead?

Your description is partly correct – but not entirely. I became parliamentary group leader because I want the group to have its own weight and to contribute its own ideas. The star of our party is the team, including my deputies such as Winfried Bausback from Aschaffenburg – and together we want to move things forward. Of course we want to support the state government, we support it, we are an action group. But that is not all.

Rather?

It is important that colleagues from your constituencies bring the issues to us. From this, we must develop political initiatives that will move Bavaria forward.

Does Markus Söder want that?

Yes. I work closely with the Prime Minister. We saw that in his most recent government statement he addressed many of the CSU’s key concerns because they are important for the people of Bavaria. Life in Bavaria should become easier and less bureaucratic.

Is it also about making it clear to the Free Voters as coalition partner and to Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger: Now Holetschek is coming, we will not let ourselves be led around by the nose?

It is not about seeking conflict. However, as the CSU parliamentary group we want to appear self-confident and show which issues are important to us. Economic policy is of paramount importance. Without good economic policy there can be no prosperity, without prosperity there will be no welfare state in the long term. That is why we have made it clear in which areas of economic policy we would like to see a stronger focus: in innovations, in foreign trade policy. We made this clear to Hubert Aiwanger. Ultimately, economic policy is always a matter for the boss and is in good hands with Markus Söder.

Most recently, you raised a clear disagreement with Aiwanger regarding the binding nature of Bavaria’s climate protection targets.

Yes. Because I don’t understand and don’t think it’s wise that after the recent floods and ongoing heavy rain events, the jointly agreed climate goals of our state are being carelessly called into question. We have to deal with climate change and climate adaptation. But Hubert Aiwanger is right on one point.

Which one do you mean?

We need to bring ecology and economy together, we must not see them as contradictory. We also need to involve people more in these issues, for example in the expansion of wind power. Especially in light of the extreme consequences of the floods in my Swabian homeland, I think it would be unwise to even consider abandoning our climate goals now.

What issues concern you in Bavarian state politics besides health, economic and climate policy?

I am particularly concerned with the social question in all its facets: How can we reform and transform the world of work in the present and the future? How can we secure Bavarian social benefits such as family allowances or care allowances, which do not exist anywhere else? How can we provide all-day childcare? We must agree on how we prioritize the tasks in our state and what we want to spend the money on. The question of affordable housing is also part of this topic. Social peace in our country is a valuable asset – maintaining it is worth every effort.

You have raised many questions – what exactly needs to be done in Bavaria now?

We are doing a lot and, above all, the right things. The first ministerial proposals have been submitted on the issues of bureaucratization and over-regulation, the laws are being made and could soon come into force. It is obvious what we have to do if we want to do something about the loss of trust in established politics and the growth of radicals: we have to deliver on all important issues. It is not about announcing and discussing, it is about acting and doing.

With a view to the new electoral law in the 2023 federal election, the CSU must worry about its existence in federal politics – are you afraid of the five percent hurdle?

No, not at all. Our good result in the European elections showed that we are a strong, genuine people’s party. We have underlined our national political claim and have no need to worry about the Bundestag election. I am also certain that the Federal Constitutional Court will make a wise decision on the new electoral law. We cannot imagine that the undemocratic abolition of the basic mandate clause, which guarantees a presence in the Bundestag once three constituencies have been won, will stand up in court.

As an experienced state politician: Are you worried about our federal state structure when you look ahead to the state elections in the eastern states this autumn?

Yes, I am. I am currently campaigning in Saxony. When you look at the poll results for the AfD and also for the Sarah Wagenknecht coalition, you have to ask yourself how stable government is possible in these states. It could change the whole republic if these elections go as is now predicted.

What needs to be done?

Our answers can only lie in solving people’s problems. The issue of migration is not only taking up a lot of space in the eastern German states; we must prove that we take concerns seriously and do not spend a long time discussing them, but take really effective action. Bavaria is setting an example here, as shown by the rapid introduction of payment cards for asylum seekers. Social issues also play a major role – and we will be able to successfully confront the extremists if we are there for people with real solutions on issues such as health care and nursing.

MARTIN SCHWARZKOPF