CDU top candidate Manuel Hagel is currently being criticized.Image: keystone
Shortly before the state elections in Baden-Württemberg, CDU top candidate Manuel Hagel visits a school class. The appearance is now causing renewed criticism.
Mar 6, 2026, 10:45 amMarch 6, 2026, 12:06 p.m
Charlotta Siemer / t-online
Of all things, another visit to school is causing renewed criticism from CDU top candidate Manuel Hagel. The politician visits a class in Stuttgart shortly before the state elections in Baden-Württemberg on Sunday and is accompanied by a camera from the ARD lunchtime magazine. What sticks in particular is a harsh sentence to the class teacher.
Both the students and the teacher ask Hagel questions – the latter doesn’t seem to suit Hagel, he responds rather curtly. When a student asked why inclusion teachers were coming less and less, the CDU politician first replied:
“Because we don’t have enough positions there and we don’t train enough teachers. And we want to correct that so that we have more teachers here.”
The teacher wants to ask a question about this, but Hagel reacts harshly and interrupts her with the words “I’m just talking to the students.” The atmosphere in the classroom changes significantly.
Hagel incorrectly explains greenhouse gas effect
The teacher in the class had previously offered Hagel if he could explain the greenhouse gas effect to the students. He agrees and begins to explain:
“Between the Earth and the Sun is the atmosphere. And as it gets thinner and thinner, the sun gets hotter and hotter. And the reason for this is exhaust gases, CO2, and that is this greenhouse effect.”
Technically, however, this is wrong, because additional greenhouse gases such as CO2 ensure that less heat can be released into space and the atmosphere and earth warm up. The atmosphere is not getting any thinner – as Hagel claims. In the article, however, the politician’s explanation remains unclassified.
Criticism of Hagel was voiced last week after a Green Bundestag member posted an eight-year-old video of him on social media. Hagel, then 29 years old and a member of the state parliament, reports on a visit to school. There were 80 percent girls in the class. “Well, there are worse dates than this for 29-year-old MPs,” says Hagel. Then he responds to a student: “I’ll never forget the first question, her name was Eva, brown hair, fawn eyes.” The clip caused severe criticism of the CDU’s top candidate.
Before the state election: Manuel Hagel is accused of sexism
Video: watson/Elena Maria Müller
A few days before the state elections in Baden-Württemberg, the Greens are tied with the CDU. According to the ZDF political barometer, both parties have 28 percent, although the Greens with top candidate Cem Özdemir have gained three points compared to the previous week. The Union, which dominated the polls for months, achieved an increase of one point.
Sources used:
(hkl)