Mrs Kramp-Karrenbauer, commonly known as AKK, sparked furore among LGBT activists with a joke on intersex toilets earlier this month. But, rather than take a step back and apologise, the newly-elected leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) made the bold move of telling people to cheer up, branding Germany the “most uptight nation” in the world. And instead of being lambasted by voters, AKK gained consensus, a survey showed.
In the midst of the toilet row, AKK told a crowd of CDU supporters in the north-eastern city of Demmin: “I have the feeling we are the most uptight nation that ever walked this earth.”
A few days later, an opinion poll carried out by pollster Insa Consulere between March 8 and 11 of 2,005 people showed the support for the CDU had risen 1.5 percentage points since their previous poll on March 1, reaching 30.5 percent.
The polling firm’s managing director, Herman Binkert, said German voters appreciated she stood her ground.
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He said: “People, especially the traditional CDU clientele, liked the fact she didn’t row back and stuck to her guns.”
The gag which attracted the criticism of activists was addressed to those men who, AKK said, “don’t know yet if they should pee standing up or sitting down”.
A similar joke by the CDU leader should not be interpreted as a simple slip of the tongue, according to Andrea Rommele, a professor at the Hertie School of Governance.
Ms Rommele argued AKK is signalling to the electorate her desire to take the party to the right.
She said: “It is clear now that she is trying to move the CDU to the right.
“The gag wasn’t a slip, it was a dog whistle to voters who might have defected to the AfD.”
Ahead of the crucial regional elections taking place across the country this autumn, AKK is taking a swipe at some of the German Chancellor’s signature’s policies rather than blindly following her path.
Speaking about immigration, the CDU leader said Germany could close its borders “as a last resort” if a new refugee crisis similar to the one which swept across Europe in 2015 were repeated.
Manuel Hagel, a CDU leader in Baden-Wurttemberg, said: “What AKK has said on immigration is a balm for the CDU’s soul.”
In an attempt to get back the support of the so-called “Mittelstand”, Germany’s medium-sized enterprises, she also trashed the idea of banning old diesel cars.
And she even rejected the proposal from Mrs Merkel’s closest European ally, Emmanuel Macron, regarding implementing an EU-wide minimum wage.
Mr Hagel added: “The clarity of her positions, on things like refugee, diesel and the future of car industry, is something new.
“No one is saying any more that she’s the mini-Merkel”.
The nickname “mini-Merkel” was given to AKK by some party members who thought she would be just a pale imitation of the Chancellor, who had ruled the party for 18 years.