Member of Parliament in Portrait: Karl Lauterbach (SPD)

On February 23, the SPD achieved its worst election result since 1949: But in the Leverkusen/Cologne IV constituency, the social democratic world is still in order. There, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach easily won the direct mandate and is now entering the Bundestag for the sixth time. During the election campaign, the 62-year-old doctor always sounded as if the traffic light coalition had not failed at all and as if he was fully expecting to continue as Health Minister. In any case, he always explained what he was currently working on and what further changes he was planning in the health system. There is no question: someone still has creative ambitions. It is just uncertain how the coalition talks will go and which party will ultimately claim which ministry for itself and who it will nominate for it. (bwa)