Melange Magazine

Personalities

A Teenage Politician
By nik nazmi nik ahmad

Until recently, Anna Luehrmann was still a teenager. She is now twenty years old, a Greens MP of Germany's Bundestag, who enjoys Harry Potter and The Matrix. This young lady stands out, because as she says the world of politics is “mainly dominated by old men in grey suits!”

Some time in 2003, I was browsing through the BBC website when I found out about Anna Luehrmann. She's 19 (I'm already 21) and is a Greens MP of the Bundestag, Germany's Parliament, possibly one of the world's youngest MPs ever. Using the Internet, I managed to reach her official website to get in touch with her staff to interview her through e-mail. She replied to the interview and appeared to be perfectly nice and approachable.

Nik Nazmi:
Can you tell us a bit about yourself, Anna?

Anna Luehrmann:

My parents are both active in the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany). I have a brother and a half-brother.

I have been active in politics for quite a few years. I ran for elections in Hofheim against CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) former Federal Science Minister Heinz Riesenhuber and SPD trade union leader Klaus Wiesehuegel. The SPD candidate won the seat directly, but I got through to the Bundestag through the proportional representation system.

I just passed the Abitur (the compulsory final school exam in the German school system) with high marks, majoring in English and Sociology.

NN:
Young people are known to be idealistic, but they are rarely involved in partisan politics. What got you acquainted with the Green Party and as one of the candidates for the Bundestag elections?

AL:

My political activities already began in elementary school. When I was 9 years old I started a "Greenteam", a youth group of Greenpeace, because I was concerned about environmental pollution and wanted to do something instead of just complaining. In high school I was a member of the student council and there got in touch with the Green Youth, the independent youth organization of the Green Party. I held some official functions in different sections of the Green Youth on national, state and regional/local level such as board member and spokesperson. I became a member of the Green Party at age 14.

NN:
What do you think is the main attraction of the Green Party, compared to the larger SPD and Christian Democrats?

AL:

I found it very attractive that in the Green Party young people are really taken seriously. I could see that the ideas I proposed were taken up and I could actually do something. In a small party it is easier to be heard even by the "big" politicians and to get into office.

NN:
How do you see Green Party's role in the SPD-led government?

AL:

We call ourselves the "motor of reforms". We make the SPD move. As a big party they are sometimes afraid to push forward necessary reforms because they are afraid to lose voters.

NN:
So do you see your future as tied to politics in the long run? What about your studies, or other forms of career?

AL:

Actually, I do continue my education while being an MP. I study social sciences if my schedule allows. At the moment I attend two courses a week - not a lot but I want to have an alternative to being a politician someday. That makes me more independent from my party and the whole political "business". At the moment I have no plans to become the first female chancellor or something like that.

NN:
I heard you like Harry Potter. What other movies do you like? And your other interests?

AL:

I like European movies for example The wonderful world of *Amélie* or *Naked* but also some real Hollywood blockbusters like *The Matrix*. When I have the time I like to read or go out with my friends to parties or pubs. Even if it sounds a little weird, I am also interested in scientific research about the human brain and conciousness.

NN:
Do you surf the net often?

AL:

Related to my work: yes, to find information or read the news. In private:
I hardly have any time.

NN:
Do people recognise you in public?

AL:

Yes, some do, but fortunately I am not Leonardo DiCaprio or Jennifer Lopez - so they leave me alone basically. Sometimes people on the underground train or at parties ask me if I wasn't the youngest MP.

NN:
What would you like to say to our young readers?

AL:

Don't sit around and complain but do something about the things you are fed up with! Politics won't change unless you change it.

Note: At the time of this interview, Anna Luehrmann was 19 years old. She is now 20 years old, no longer a teenager, but still very young for a politician.