Christian Kiermeier – That's how he rolls

What makes you laugh?

Christian Kiermeier: A lot of things, first and foremost my friends and family. They always say that I have a dry and black sense of humor. I can't really deny that either, although I would rather understand it as situation comedy.

What have you always been wanting to do and why have you never done this so far?

Christian Kiermeier: There's nothing there right now, frankly. You could say that I am perfectly happy at the moment. The wishes I had were rather modest – for example my first tattoo or creating my website – and fortunately I was able to realize them.
 
Which person has influenced you most? And why?

Christian Kiermeier: Herbert Powell (a fictional character on the series The Simpsons; editor's note) with his sentence "Discarded pizza boxes are an inexpensive source of cheese." – this sentence has opened my eyes to the throwaway society.

No seriously, I don't think there is this one person who has influenced me the most. I see myself more as a mosaic picture in which many people were and still are involved. But most of all my parents.

You have the chance to become the Commissioner for the Disabled. What would you do first?

Christian Kiermeier: To tell you the truth: I have no idea what my first official act would be. I think, unfortunately, our society is not as open and tolerant as you might think – both in general terms and specifically in relation to people with disabilities. This is exactly where I think we need to start: The fears of contact that exist too often should be reduced and prejudices refuted. We should all work on that.

Christian Kiermeier: My family and my friends, nothing comes after that for a long time. I simply want the people in my immediate environment to be as well off as possible.

I would like to be...

Christian Kiermeier: ...a time traveller. I am very curious about the question at what point society will be in 50, 100 or 200 years. Simply because I think that in the present we have to answer many important questions, which obviously is not easy for us.

Which question would you like answered the most?

Christian Kiermeier: The answer to the question about the meaning of life would be the classic one, wouldn't it? As you know, it is 42.

The questions that concern me and that I would like to have answered are more secular in nature. For example: How do we solve the questions of migration, inclusion, fair educational opportunities, social justice, pensions, etc.? I am aware that, as a rule, these are not particularly entertaining issues, but I think they are extremely important.

What I finally want to say...

Christian Kiermeier: It would be nice if people would manage to find themselves more again. Because that is the only way to really find to each other.