Der Job seines Lebens 2 - Wieder im Amt (2004)

Premier Uwe Achimsen is admitted to the hospital with an acute heart attack. Thanks to the swift treatment, he is no longer in danger, but he must take it easy over the next few weeks and remain in the hospital. For his secretary, Hein Feddersen, this is a serious blow so close to the election. If Achimsen is absent from the campaign, the incumbent state parliament member Neuenfels looks certain to win. So they think of Achimsen’s double, Erwin Strunz. He is summoned by phone to the employment office and informed that, effective immediately, he is to take up a position in the north. To avoid losing his unemployment benefits, he accepts the job, although Erika is strongly opposed. She is currently preparing for a demonstration with her garden neighbors, Uschi and Reinhard Paschke. The government plans to build a new runway, and the land of countless allotment-garden owners is to be used for it. In solidarity, many like-minded people demonstrate on behalf of their fellow allotment gardeners. To make sure the real Uwe Achimsen disappears from public view, he is transferred under the name Erwin Strunz to a less comfortable ward of the hospital, as an ordinary publicly insured patient. Meanwhile, the fake Achimsen resumes his duties and, to the astonishment of his political opponents, shows up at an important meeting. But he is unprepared, and when they ask him for a catchy issue for the final stretch of the election campaign, he suggests the “sweet potato.” At first, this meets with nothing but incomprehension, but he quickly succeeds in convincing his colleagues of the sweet potato’s merits. An order is immediately issued to all cafeterias in public institutions to add sweet-potato dishes to their menus. He even provides specific recipes. In his next move, Strunz challenges his political opponents even more. Accompanied by a large group of members of parliament, he inspects the site designated for the new runway. He makes it perfectly clear that the runway will not be built here at the expense of the allotment-garden owners. The politicians are bewildered, but the allotment gardeners are deeply grateful. Even Achimsen’s daughter is delighted that her father has decided against the construction. Frau Blum, Uwe Achimsen’s personal secretary, suspects that her boss is someone else. She tells Bernd Neuenfels, and before the rumor can spread any further, the real Achimsen is supposed to make a brief visit to the office. For this maneuver, Strunz is flown by helicopter to the hospital, where he switches places with the premier. While the hospital staff are now surprised to discover that patient Strunz shows no sign of having had a heart attack, but instead has gallstones and urgently needs surgery, Achimsen confronts his political opponents. He presents himself as the familiar expert and even manages to convince his secretary by showing her a scar. Neuenfels is left looking foolish, and Achimsen intends to initiate proceedings to expel him from the party. The “switch back” takes place later that same day, so Strunz can appear before the public at a planned election rally. His down-to-earth manner wins him points with the crowd, and that evening he also takes part in a televised debate, where his opponent is utterly astonished by his honesty. A luxurious suite has been reserved for him for the night, which he is to share with Heide Achimsen. Unexpectedly, she makes a scene in front of the room attendant, treating Strunz as if he were her husband. That is how Strunz learns that Heide Achimsen does not want her husband to serve another term and hopes the public will find out about their marital problems, which she hopes will cost him votes. When the real Uwe Achimsen reads about his supposed private problems in the newspaper, he is so angry that he promptly leaves the hospital and confronts his wife. She explains that she is only trying to save him and can no longer stand by and watch him ruin himself and his health. Despite everything, Uwe Achimsen wins the election. In his inaugural speech, which Strunz again delivers, he thanks the voters for electing him but declines the office and resigns—just as he promised Heide Achimsen he would. Her husband is initially furious, but ultimately accepts his wife’s decision. He also offers Erwin Strunz his personal thanks and grants him one “last” wish: Strunz can have his long-overdue gallstone operation in the hospital as a private patient.