The Berlin coalition negotiations between the CDU and SPD have not even started. But names for the posts in the state government to be formed are already circulating. One of the rumors is causing a stir in the federal capital, which is sparsely supplied with charismatic politicians: Dieter Romann, the president of the federal police, could possibly become the new interior senator, according to CDU circles. First “Bild” had reported.
Should the CDU inspire Romann for the job as interior senator and also convince the designated coalition partner, the SPD, of the personnel, it would be a real coup for the capital CDU. Because Romann is considered one of the most distinguished experts in the German security apparatus and could help the Berlin Christian Democrats to sharpen their security policy profile.
Officially, nobody wants to confirm the personnel. But at the top of the party it is said that Romann would probably not be averse to taking on the post. One of the reasons: Romann came to the head of the Federal Police in 2012 on the ticket of the CDU. With Nancy Faeser, however, the house is now headed by an SPD politician.
Rumors that Faeser could replace Romann, who is considered to be extremely conservative, were already circulating after the change of government in autumn 2021. So far, however, Faeser has stuck with Romann. As soon as he makes a mistake, so it is said in political Berlin, the SPD minister could be tempted to get rid of him.
Romann could use the post as Berlin Senator for the Interior to make the jump from the alleged ejection seat to the federal police in good time. The job as interior senator in the crime-ridden capital would always be a challenge. In view of his experience, Romann’s self-confidence would be high enough to dare the job, they say.
The Berlin CDU would probably welcome him with open arms. The top candidate in the elections to the House of Representatives, Kai Wegner, who would become governing mayor if the coalition negotiations with the SPD were successful, has known the 60-year-old lawyer for a long time and values him. In the CDU, the relationship of trust between the two is no secret.
Alternatives are also few and far between in the Berlin CDU. Burkard Dregger, son of the former conservative CDU figurehead Alfred Dregger, former faction leader of the Berlin Christian Democrats, and re-elected to the House of Representatives by the repeat election, would probably also dare to do the job. In the party, however, he no longer has many advocates. Also, Wegner and Dregger can’t get along. That’s no secret in the party either.
CDU man Falko Liecke has also been said to have ambitions for the job for years. Liecke acts as a city councilor in the problem district of Neukölln “only” for the area of social affairs. But when it came to issues such as clan crime, Liecke made a name for himself inside and outside the party, for example with demands that children from crime-ridden clans be taken out of their families in order to deprive the clans of offspring.
According to the party, however, Liecke could not compete with a security policy heavyweight like Dieter Romann. If the federal police president wanted the job, no one would dispute his position – at least not in the CDU.
On the other hand, it is currently completely open whether the Social Democrats would hand over internal administration to the new designated coalition partner. Because with Iris Spranger, an SPD woman currently occupies the post. Apparently she doesn’t want to give him up without a fight. SPD chairwoman Franziska Giffey is also doing everything to raise the profile of the SPD in the field of internal security. Giffey should therefore also try to keep the department in the hands of the social democrat.
The CDU, in turn, would like to claim the interior department, according to CDU country chief Wegner. The finance department may be even more important to the party. Claiming both administrations can hardly be enforced in the coalition negotiations. Ultimately, the post could remain a bargaining chip until the end of the negotiations.
The upcoming haggling over the job at the head of Berlin’s internal administration should also be followed in the Berlin police with interest. Because if Romann came, the authority would act under the political leadership of a proven expert. Nevertheless, it would be questionable whether the current chief of police, the lawyer Barbara Slowik, who is considered to be progressive and close to the SPD, would serve under the arch-conservative alpha male Romann.
It is said that Slowik could possibly leave the Berlin police in this case. In the event of a possible departure, however, she could apply for another post: as President of the Federal Police. In the last federal election, Slowik’s name was traded for the post of Federal Police President, which she always denied.
It is currently not possible to foresee whether this will happen or whether it will be completely different, as is clear in all discussions, and nobody in the party wants to comment officially on the mind games anyway. One thing, however, can be heard both in the CDU and in the environment of the federal police: A change from Romann to the top of Berlin’s internal administration would definitely be conceivable.
