A video clip from a 2018 television interview is drawing criticism of Manuel Hagel, the Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) leading candidate for the upcoming state election in Baden-Württemberg. The resurfaced footage has ignited debate, and unexpectedly, garnered support for Hagel from a political opponent.
The controversy began with a post on Instagram by Zoe Mayer, a Green Party member of the German Bundestag representing Karlsruhe. Mayer criticized Hagel’s description of a school visit during the 2018 interview with a regional broadcaster. Hagel recounted that 80 percent of the students in the class were girls, then added, “There are worse appointments for a 29-year-old politician than this.” He continued by describing a conversation with a female student, recalling, “I’ll never forget it, the first question, she was called Eva, brown hair, hazel eyes.”
Mayer labeled Hagel’s comments a “verbal misstep,” questioning why a male politician and then-CDU General Secretary would focus on a young student’s appearance rather than her question. She asked her followers what message such a description sends to young women considering a career in politics.
The Instagram post quickly went viral, garnering nearly three million views and over 200,000 likes within a short period. Numerous media outlets picked up the story, reporting on Hagel’s remarks. Comments on Mayer’s post ranged from outrage – with some users stating Hagel should not become state premier – to defenses claiming the clip was taken out of context and part of a “malicious smear campaign.” Some argued Hagel was simply trying to illustrate the importance of accessible language in politics.
Unexpectedly, Hagel received support during a televised debate with other leading candidates. Cem Özdemir, the Green Party’s top candidate, defended Hagel, stating he was confident Hagel would not phrase things that way today. Özdemir emphasized that the video was not released by his party, but by a Green Party parliamentarian. In a subsequent interview with the Funke Media Group, Özdemir clarified that he disagreed with Hagel’s comments but maintained that people should be allowed to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes.
Mayer responded to Özdemir’s defense, stating he was not informed about the video prior to the debate. She also told the German Press Agency that Hagel had eight years to apologize, and his failure to do so demonstrated a lack of awareness regarding the issue.
Hagel himself acknowledged the comments were “mistaken” during the debate, stating his wife had “given him a piece of her mind” that evening.
Michael Wehner, a political expert at the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung in Freiburg, suggested the impact of the controversy on the election remains uncertain. He stated that the public’s reaction to the resurfaced footage would be crucial, and that media coverage would play a significant role. Wehner also noted that “dirty stories” are a common element of election campaigns, citing a separate incident involving Andreas Stoch, the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) leading candidate, and allegations of preferential treatment at a local market. He also pointed to accusations of nepotism within the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The “Stuttgarter Zeitung” newspaper reported on Wednesday that a scene from a SWR film showed Stoch visiting a food bank before asking his driver to purchase pastries in France. The scene has also drawn criticism on YouTube.
