Saturday 19th June 2021
CDU and CSU are working on the draft
This is what the Union is planning for its election program
The time has come soon: The CDU and CSU parties want to present their joint program for the federal election. In the days leading up to the presentation, there are still some important topics to be discussed – including climate policy.
Union experts worked on the details of the joint election program until the end of the meeting of the leaders of the CDU and CSU, which began on Sunday evening. The German press agency learned from the Union that discussions are still going on in the areas of climate and pensions. The inclusion of the mother’s pension desired by the CSU should not be included in the joint paper. This could therefore be found in a special program planned by the CSU for Bavaria. In the Union it was emphasized that changes to details of the draft are still possible during the deliberations planned until Monday.
The Union wants to convince the voters in the federal election on September 26th after the high expenditure due to the corona pandemic by rejecting tax increases. The state’s financial leeway is clearly limited. “New debts or tax increases would be the wrong way to go,” says the introduction to the 180-page paper. The state must withdraw significantly after the pandemic and give citizens and companies more freedom.
On Monday, CDU boss Armin Laschet and CSU boss Markus Söder want to present the program at their first major joint public appearance after the decision in the power struggle for the candidacy for chancellor in April. Here are some important points from the nine chapters of the draft that the dpa has received:
Economy and Climate
In order for the economy to get going again after the pandemic, “no new burdens may be imposed on companies,” says the draft. New taxes on assets such as the wealth tax or the increase in inheritance tax are rejected. The Union is aiming for a “competitive corporate tax of the order of 25 percent”. Companies should be relieved of bureaucratic costs running into billions. According to the draft, the mini job limit of 450 euros is to be increased to 550 euros, the CSU had reportedly pleaded for an increase to 600 euros.
In the climate pass it says that Germany’s greenhouse gas neutrality will be implemented by 2045. The Union is relying on “the market-based instrument of emissions trading with social compensation”, they are striving for European emissions trading with a uniform price and global connectivity. The growth path of CO2 pricing should be tightened and “move as quickly as possible to a price established on the market in the newly established European emissions trading for mobility and heating”. Specific CO2 prices are not mentioned. The income should be returned in full to citizens and companies via the electricity price.
Social
Calls for an increase in the retirement age, as recently raised by experts, are not included in the draft. The aim is to help people to reach the actual standard retirement age, “and also to set stronger incentives to work longer,” it says. In addition to the three pillars of old-age provision – statutory, company and private provision – the Union wants to establish a fourth pillar: a “generational pension for every child”. For this, the state should pay a contribution of 100 euros per month for every child from birth to 18 years of age into a generational pension fund, which invests the money in a return-oriented manner.
With the entry into retirement age, this generation pension should be paid in addition to the existing entitlements. The Union wants to make company pension schemes mandatory for low-wage earners. The financing should be subsidized by the state. A new start is necessary for private, state-sponsored old-age provision (“Riester pension”). The aim is to define criteria for a “standard pension product” that should get by without acquisition costs and with the lowest possible administrative costs. There should be attractive and unbureaucratic funding from the state.
Intergenerational justice
According to the draft, the Union wants to return to a balanced federal budget without new debt as soon as possible. Changes to the constitution to soften the debt brake are categorically rejected. The draft does not announce any major tax relief for citizens. They stand for a solid financial policy: “We don’t make promises that we can’t keep.”
International politics
The Union wants Germany to “actively contribute to international crisis management and to shaping the world order” within the framework of the EU, NATO, the United Nations and other organizations. The draft says: “The decade of modernization with which we are making Germany capable of global politics can only succeed with new strength in foreign policy.” China must be met on an equal footing, and its will to power must be countered with strength and unity in close coordination with, among others, the transatlantic partners. Wherever possible, however, close cooperation with China must be sought – within the framework of fair competition. The Union wants to work for a European China strategy.
Europe
The internal cohesion of the EU should not be weakened by the admission of new members. Turkey will not join the EU with the Union. The section on migration states that people in need should be helped and that migration should be effectively controlled and limited at the same time. Beyond the existing regulations, no further family reunification should be granted. The right to stay for rejected asylum seekers should be restricted more strongly and the “pressure on impostors and those who refuse to cooperate” should be increased significantly. Obligations to leave the country should be better enforced, and collective deportations should be facilitated by “detention facilities” at airports.
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