Here is a rewritten and expanded version of the provided article in Markdown format, aimed at exceeding 600 words, while maintaining a conversational and engaging tone.

Hamburg’s Pulse: Political Ponderings, Sprengung Success, and Indonesian Intrigue

Hello reader,

Hope your May Day was a pleasant one! Today, taking advantage of this lovely bridge day, I wanted to share a quick story about Wolfgang Schmidt. For those who might need a memory jog, Schmidt was a key figure during Olaf Scholz’s tenure as the "King of Hamburg," serving as State Councillor in the Senate Chancellery – essentially, the equivalent of a chief of staff in the Hamburg city hall.

When I first joined the Hamburg desk, Schmidt had just transitioned to the role of State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance. Then, in 2021, he reunited with Scholz, becoming his Chief of the Federal Chancellery, this time at the national level. However, this chapter is coming to a close on Monday. So, the burning question is: What’s next for Wolfgang Schmidt? What will become of him?

During the Bundestag elections, Schmidt threw his hat into the ring as a candidate (Z+ district) – only to narrowly miss securing a seat. Since then, the rumor mill has been working overtime. At one point, whispers suggested that the Hamburg SPD might orchestrate Schmidt’s entry into the Bundestag by persuading another Hamburg MP to accept a position in the Senate. Then, the speculation shifted, hinting that Schmidt himself might be appointed as a Senator. As of last week, we know that neither of those scenarios is coming to fruition.

Of course, there’s always the possibility of a ministerial appointment. The SPD is scheduled to announce the composition of its seven federal ministries on Monday. Could Schmidt be among them? Your guess is as good as mine.

The truth is, even with my… unique relationship with Schmidt these past few weeks, I’m in the dark. It’s not a personal friendship, mind you. Rather, it’s a daily occurrence. Every morning, as I leave my apartment and head towards the office, there he is – a Wolfgang Schmidt election poster nestled in the bushes just steps from my front door. It’s surprisingly well-preserved, thanks to the recent lack of rain, and it’s positioned in such a way that Schmidt has a clear view of the sidewalk and street.

Each day, I learn what’s important in Hamburg from the editorial team at ZEIT – concise, personal, and with a definite point of view, arriving promptly at 6 AM every weekday.

After a few days, I started greeting him. Occasionally, we engage in brief chats – about the weather, the SPD, and the ongoing coalition negotiations. I find it quite endearing. After all, Schmidt, who only weeks ago had a strong and visible campaign presence in Eimsbüttel and various talk shows, has simply vanished back into his regular professional life. The other day, someone in the office asked, "Whatever happened to Wolfgang Schmidt?" I almost replied, "He’s lying behind my hedge."

Naturally, I’ve inquired about his future plans, repeatedly, most recently the day before yesterday. But, unsurprisingly, he’s remained tight-lipped.

On that note, I wish you a wonderful weekend!

Yours,

Florian Zinnecker

(Have an opinion to share? Know something we should be reporting on? Email us at [email protected].)

More Hamburg Happenings: A Sprengung Success & Sports Update

Beyond political speculation, Hamburg has been buzzing with other news as well.

The former Moorburg coal-fired power plant was successfully brought down in its second demolition attempt, as announced by the Hamburg energy company. The initial attempt on March 23rd only succeeded in demolishing one of the two boiler houses. The power plant’s double chimney had already been demolished on November 10th. Looking ahead, the site is slated to become a hub for green hydrogen infrastructure, with plans to construct an electrolyzer – a facility that produces hydrogen from environmentally friendly electricity. This is a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the city.

On the sporting front, the Hamburger SV’s promotion hopes in the Second Bundesliga have suffered a setback. Despite this recent stumble, the City of Hamburg is already planning a joint promotion celebration for both the HSV men’s and women’s teams on May 19th. The date has been reserved at the Rathaus and the Rathausmarkt, according to reports in the Abendblatt. With just three match days remaining in the season, both teams are currently holding promotion spots. Let’s hope that HSV manages to pull things off, it’s been long enough!

Shipping News: Hapag-Lloyd Reports Strong Start to 2025

In economic news, shipping company Hapag-Lloyd transported 300,000 more standard containers from January to March than in the same quarter last year – resulting in increased profits. According to preliminary financial figures, rising freight rates also contributed to the positive development. "We have had a good start to the first quarter of 2025, but the market environment is currently characterized by many uncertainties," said CEO Rolf Habben Jansen. The shipping industry is extremely volatile so this is reassuring news.

May Day Demonstrations in Hamburg: A Peaceful Show of Solidarity

Thousands of people took to the streets of Hamburg on May 1st. In the morning, 5,500 people marched with the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) through Barmbek to advocate for a fairer working world, including Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD). The left-wing and radical left-wing protests also attracted a similar number of participants as in the previous year, with around 6,000 participants marching with the "Wer hat, der gibt" alliance through Winterhude and Uhlenhorst to the Hotel Atlantic. The protest march was registered under the title "Superreiche? Superscheiße!" ("The Super-Rich? Super-Crap!"). The anarchist demonstration organized by the "Schwarz-Roter 1. Mai" alliance drew approximately 850 participants, according to police reports. The left-wing autonomists marched from Berliner Tor to the Schanzenviertel, setting off fireworks and yellow smoke bombs on the roof of the Rote Flora and chanting slogans commemorating Lorenz A., a young man who was shot dead in Oldenburg.

Later in the day, the "Rote Aufbau," which is under surveillance by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, gathered at the Hasselbrook station for their "revolutionary May Day demonstration." Numerous participants with Palestinian flags were present. Up to 2,800 people took part in the march. A total of 1,800 police officers were deployed. All demonstrations remained peaceful, as they have in recent years.

Brief News Bites: Unemployment and a Traffic Accident

• The number of unemployed people in Hamburg increased by 230 from March to April, reaching 93,155, according to the Hamburg Employment Agency.
• A pedestrian was seriously injured in Wilhelmsburg after being struck by a car. The man suddenly stepped onto the roadway on Thursday night, police said.

Remembering the End of the War: Hamburg’s Transition to Peace

For Hamburg, the end of the war 80 years ago was relatively mild – or so the historical narrative often goes. But that’s not entirely accurate, as Tom Kroll writes in the current ZEIT:Hamburg edition. The British army enters Hamburg…

Culinary Corner: Discovering Indonesian Flavors in Hohenfelde

Indonesian cuisine is primarily known for one dish here, often mistaken for Chinese: Nasi Goreng fried rice. However, recently it’s become easier to find a broader sampling of Indonesian fare. Deli Indo, which opened in Hohenfelde in 2024, presents something new visually – alongside figures from traditional puppet theater are lovingly arranged everyday objects, from old telephones to Choki Choki candy bars. The roughly twenty items on the menu are decidedly Indonesian and correspondingly unfamiliar. The Bala Bala vegetable fritters taste a bit like Pakora. Spiciness is provided by a mild chili-garlic dip rather than the dough itself.

For the curious, the "Set Menus" are recommended. While they aren’t visually stunning – four or five dishes on one plate, like a glutton after a trip to the buffet – you get a cross-section of this cuisine at a small price: a Balinese goulash with warming spiciness, savory minced fish grilled on a lemongrass skewer, dry pulled chicken. Most exciting is the Lawar made from jackfruit, green beans, and plenty of coconut. The host are engaging, which brings a lot of Balinese flair to Hohenfelde. It’s also nice that some guests eat with their (right) hand, as is often the case in the cuisine’s country of origin.

• Indo, Barcastraße 8, Hohenfelde. Tel. 89067000

Migration History in Hamburg: A New Perspective

Hamburg is a city of immigration, with 40 percent of Hamburg residents having a so-called migration background. Nine history workshops have sought out and documented migration stories from 1945 onwards in their respective districts, presenting these from different perspectives. The resulting exhibition "Angekommen? Migrationsgeschichte(n) in Hamburg" is on display until May 13th at the Central Library on Hühnerposten.

• "Angekommen? Migrationsgeschichte(n) in Hamburg", until 13.5., Mo–Sa 10–19 Uhr, So 13–18 Uhr (Sundays without specialist staff), Central Library Hühnerposten 1, exhibition area E1, free admission

And finally…

"We don’t want to pay!" a restaurant customer at the Alster said to the waiter, who responded "Ah, so you would like to financially evolve."

This was the Elbvertiefung, the daily Hamburg newsletter from ZEIT. If you would like it to land in your inbox every day at 6 a.m., you can subscribe to it here for free.