The CDU is renewing its party program and defining its future plans. She sticks to her basic principles. The aim is to recognize Israel as a prerequisite for naturalization and to expand the scope and presence of the Bundeswehr.
After 17 years, the CDU wants to seal a new basic program. The current one is from 2007, has 120 pages and the title: “Freedom and Security.” The title will be lengthened slightly in the future, but the program will be shortened by 50 pages. An overview of the contents of the almost 70-page program “Live in freedom. Lead Germany safely into the future”.
Self-image: “The CDU is the people’s party of the center,” it says at the front. The compass is “the Christian image of man.” And the three roots of the CDU are Christian-social, liberal and conservative.
New world situation: Freedom is not self-evident and must be defended again and again. “Germany’s defense capability and the combat capability of the Bundeswehr are therefore a priority for state action.”
integration: “Everyone who wants to live here must recognize our guiding culture without any ifs and buts.” These included fundamental and human rights, respect and tolerance, knowledge of the language and history, and recognition of Israel’s right to exist. Only those who commit to the dominant culture can become German.
Work: “Those who do more must be able to afford more,” demands the CDU. To achieve this, the party wants to relieve the burden on small and medium incomes and give working pensioners a better tax position. Overtime should be tax-free for full-time employment.
SocialIt is also said that anyone who receives social benefits and can work “should work”. The following must always apply: support and demand. The CDU wants to supplement the statutory pension with a “mandatory funded pension plan”.
Finance: Solid state finances are a requirement of intergenerational justice. “The guarantee for this is the debt brake.” Debt-financed special funds may only exist “in extremely exceptional cases” without later being reallocated.
Climate protection: “We respond to climate change with an open approach to technology and rely on incentives.” The central element is emissions trading with pollution rights.
Energy: “We ensure that energy is safe, clean and affordable,” promises the CDU. The emphasis is on significantly expanding renewable energies, but also: “Germany cannot currently do without the option of nuclear power.”
Internal security: The party is planning a broader framework for Bundeswehr operations domestically in the event of particular threats. In the fight against child sexual abuse and terrorist attacks, connection data should be stored for a minimum period of time and read out with a court order.
Migration: Asylum procedures should generally be carried out in a “safe third country”, i.e. outside the EU. If the outcome is positive, applicants should stay there. The EU should take up a quota every year and distribute it fairly among the EU states. There should be comprehensive agreements with third countries.
Military: The CDU is in favor of a “regular presence of soldiers in everyday life” – to attract young talent, including at schools. In order to secure the armed forces’ personnel and skills needs in the long term, “after the suspension of compulsory military service there should be no prohibitions on thinking about the future.”
Nation: “We stand for a cosmopolitan patriotism that self-confidently maintains our rich parliamentary history and tradition of freedom, but, knowing our historical guilt and the resulting responsibility, does not place our own country above others,” emphasizes the CDU. The day of the Basic Law, May 23rd, is to be a national day of remembrance with a “state of the nation speech”.
Family: “We stand by the model of marriage and family,” emphasizes the CDU. These included same-sex marriages, single parents, and patchwork families. “Family is where parents stand up for each other for children and children for parents in the long term.”
Diversity: “We respect the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities,” it says in the draft. The CDU maintains the legal distinction between the two biological sexes. “At the same time, we want to better support intersex and transsexual people.”
Religion: “Jewish life belongs to Germany,” emphasizes the CDU. There were still discussions about Islam. According to the draft it now says: “Muslims who share our values are part of the religious diversity of Germany and our society.” And: “An Islam that does not share our values and rejects our free society does not belong to Germany.”
Engagement: The CDU wants a compulsory “social year” for everyone after school. A “service for the common good” connects and strengthens cohesion.
Media: The CDU demands that public broadcasting must concentrate more on its core mission and better assume its special responsibilities. The offer must be comprehensive, balanced and of high quality.
Gender: “We are for gender-equitable language, but against gender coercion.” “No grammatically incorrect gender language” should be used in state institutions and public broadcasting.
Education: “Every child should undergo a uniform and compulsory language test at the age of four,” the CDU wants. Participation in a preschool program in daycare centers should then become compulsory for children with special needs.
Parliaments: “Members of Parliament should not determine their salaries for themselves, but rather for the members of the following electoral term,” wants the CDU. In principle, laws should only come into force on January 1st and July 1st.