Meet Dietmar Woidke: The SPD’s Dark Horse in the Running
Dietmar Woidke: The SPD’s Main Candidate in Brandenburg
A High-Stakes Gamble Pays Off
Dietmar Woidke, the SPD’s main candidate in Brandenburg, has taken a high-risk approach to the national election, and it’s paying off. With a strong result of over 30 percent, Woidke’s SPD has emerged victorious, and he’s ecstatic. “We have caught up like never before in the history of our country,” he exclaimed at the SPD electoral party in Potsdam.
A Seasoned Politician
Woidke has been Prime Minister of Brandenburg for eleven years and has been a member of the state parliament for 30 years. He’s one of the four longest-serving prime ministers in Germany. This national election was his third time running as the main candidate of the SPD.
Early Life and Career
After completing his studies, Woidke worked as an assistant at Humboldt University in Berlin and later for a company in Bavaria. However, his roots in Brandenburg drew him back home, and he became a member of the state parliament in 1994. He later served as Minister of the Environment and Agriculture and eventually became Prime Minister in 2013.
Notable Achievements
Woidke’s biggest achievement is the settlement of the electric car manufacturer Tesla in Grünheide, announced in 2019. He also made the difficult decision to reject the district reform. Despite facing challenges, including the murder of two policemen and the tragic deaths of two firefighters, Woidke remains committed to his vision for Brandenburg.
A Personal Touch
Woidke has revealed more about his personal life during the recent state election campaign. He shared that he met his wife, Susanne, at a Roland Kaiser concert and has a fondness for music, particularly the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Lou Reed. He’s also a proud grandfather and dog owner, with a dachshund named Justus von Lindenberg.
Agricultural Roots
Woidke was born in Lusatia and grew up on a farm in southern Brandenburg. He has a deep connection to agriculture and has emphasized its importance, quoting Frederick II, King of Prussia: “Agriculture is the first of all arts; without it, there would be no poets, philosophers, prime ministers, and federal ministers of agriculture.”