You can’t tell, Claus resting Madsen marry not holding out that he is a German. Rather, he promotes outright in order. In front of his furniture store, which is called interestingly enough “the Vikings”, is blowing the Danish flag as a sail, and also in his office, the red-and-white colors are all present: For Madsen Denmark identification mark and the seal of quality is at the same time.

The 46-year-old Dane competes on Sunday as the mayor of the Baltic sea port and Hanseatic town of Rostock, as a EU-foreigner, he can be in German municipalities for more than 20 years and of being chosen. He wanted to, even then, no German passport, if he wins, he protested. He was in Rostock, and Europeans, sufficient.

Madsen is a pretty unconventional person, in any case, if you create a northeastern German standards in mind. With his gray-brown beard, and his hoodies, he looks more like an Alternative than as a successful merchant. Instead of choosing mobile he rushes with a cargo bike through the city, instead of Seriously, he stands out with Humor and self-irony. He has no Plan, but ideas. Madsen says he had to reinvent themselves, sometimes new to get bored of it. He is always the question: “if you Were a book, would you read it?”

He promises, “to think through and start to make only”.

That policy could be the latest Chapter of his life, the cheerful Dane didn’t come yourself. The local CDU asked him if he wanted to, with your support as an independent candidate. As Madsen agreed, was also the FDP behind him. Similarly, he was five years ago already-in-chief of the Rostocker of industry and Commerce, become a chamber – as the first foreigner in Germany.

In the process, Madsen has to do all hands full: He has established a furniture store chain and guides, with five branches across East Germany, and more than 100 employees. Once a year, the passionate road cyclists organized a large charity Tour to support seriously ill children. He trains to Warnemünde, the volleyball girls of the SV and moves with his wife, a Finn, even a ten year old girl.

a lust for adventure had led to Madsen after Germany. After a Childhood in Copenhagen and at the Danish North sea, a half-year school break on a fishing boat, and shiny high school, he worked in the Ruhr area, in the case of a furniture dealer. 21 years ago, he moved to Rostock, the city, with 210’000 inhabitants, which has long since become his home. Denmark is practically next door, 40 kilometres across the Baltic sea.

“Social empathy, the “green heart”, the economic mind,” says Madsen outlined his political stance. He promises, “and not to think”. 150’000 Euro from the assets he invested in the election, suspect his opponent, the favorite of the political professionals of SPD and the left party in Rostock for a long time to master. The Venture of the sympathetic newcomer, succeeds Claus resting Madsen would be the first foreign mayor of a major German city at all.

(Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 21.05.2019, 19:46 PM