Former German Minister-President struggles with sleep in retirement

Winfried Kretschmann, who governed the German state of Baden-Württemberg as Minister-President for 15 years, is reportedly struggling with sleep issues even after leaving office.

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I don't miss having responsibility for day-to-day political matters.

Despite his long tenure, Kretschmann, a member of the Green Party, claims he does not miss the day-to-day political responsibilities. He indicated in an interview with "Süddeutsche Zeitung" that he often felt a sleep deficit during his time in office. Now, in retirement, his body is preventing him from catching up on rest.

Kretschmann served as Minister-President until mid-May. His political ascent was significantly impacted by the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, which occurred just weeks before the state election in 2011. He acknowledged that this event was pivotal for his initial election.

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I would not have become Minister-President if Fukushima had not exploded three weeks before the state election back then.

"I would not have become Minister-President if Fukushima had not exploded three weeks before the state election back then," Kretschmann stated in retrospect. However, he attributes his subsequent two re-elections solely to his own performance, saying, "That was because of me."

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That was because of me.