Carsten Linnemann in the “early start”
“The person who can work must go to work”
November 14, 2023, 10:57 a.m
The CDU General Secretary would like to abolish citizens’ money in its current form. “Anyone who can work must also go to work,” says Carsten Linnemann. On the K question, he advocates for his boss Friedrich Merz. The party and parliamentary group leader has the first right of access.
The General Secretary of the CDU, Carsten Linnemann, is in favor of reforming the citizens’ benefit, which was only introduced at the beginning of the year. In addition to supporting, there must also be the principle of demanding. “And this coalition has abolished that again, there is basically only funding left,” said Linnemann in ntv’s “Early Start”. “The state must of course be there with full force for those who cannot work, for whatever reason. But we also have to demand. Everyone who can assume personal responsibility and take their life into their own hands must go to work.” said Linnemann.
Citizens’ money will increase by around 25 percent in two years. “You read in the newspaper that many people say, ‘Why should I still go to work?’ The CDU politician showed understanding for people who cannot work. “But if the bakery saleswoman knows that those who can work also have to go to work, otherwise they have to do charitable work, then she also understands the social system. And that is also a contribution to social cohesion.”
Linnemann does not rule out discussing a German pact for migration with SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz again. “If the SPD says we are making a new package, a new program, and talk again, we are available,” said the Secretary General. The measures that the Prime Minister’s Conference recently adopted were not enough. The term “historical”, chosen by Scholz, is inaccurate. “The Chancellor really has to be careful. These superlatives, yes, historically, historically there was an experience 34 years ago, the fall of the Berlin Wall. That is historical. But always this ‘turbo farewell’ and ‘oomph’ and ‘super-oomph’. And afterwards Nothing follows. That doesn’t ensure credibility in politics.”
When it came to the K question, Linnemann spoke out in favor of the CDU party and Union parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz. “If Friedrich Merz wants that, then I think he has to do it,” said Linnemann about his party’s candidacy for chancellor. “This is a man with convictions. And that’s exactly what we need now, people with convictions and experience.”
In the event that the federal government no longer finds a majority, Linnemann is in favor of new elections. “Then we have a clear situation,” said the CDU politician, who, however, assumes that the traffic light coalition will continue to exist. “The traffic light will see it through. Once you’re in power, you won’t let your power be taken away from you. That’s the experience. And then you have to see everything else.”