Submitted ten point paper
Union complains about “bourgeois claim to sole representation”
6/30/2023 2:52 am
CDU and CSU meet to determine their position. Central questions are: how to proceed against the traffic light, how against the AfD? A new paper provides answers to at least the former. There is talk of a “bourgeois claim to sole representation”.
With a new ten-point program, the CDU and CSU want to present themselves as a clear alternative to the traffic light government in terms of content and strategy. The core demands are: extensive tax and duty reductions, a “moratorium on tax burdens” for companies, a “high-tech agenda” for Germany, but also tougher action against clan crime. The heating law is strictly rejected, and the Union also calls for the abolition of inheritance tax on the parental home.
The paper is entitled “Agenda for Germany” and is to be discussed and approved today at the joint meeting of the two party presidencies in Munich. It was available to the German Press Agency in advance. “We are renewing our civic sole representation claim,” says the paper, which was sent to the members of the presidency in the evening. “The Union stands for course instead of chaos, for real politics close to the people instead of ideological moral politics.”
The federal government is aggravating concerns instead of taking them seriously: “with ever new requirements and burdens, with bans and paternalism, with ideological social policies instead of policies for society, with arguments at traffic lights instead of stability for Germany.” “More debate and less dictation,” demands the Union.
The AfD, which won a district post in Germany for the first time on Sunday, is not mentioned in the paper. “Showing an attitude means discussing issues instead of defaming voters,” it says at one point.
Less bureaucracy, less real estate transfer tax, more defense spending
Some points from the catalog of demands at a glance:
- The CDU and CSU are calling for a “relief offensive” for the middle class. It needs “a broad tax and levy relief for low and normal earners”. In addition, the Union calls for financial incentives for overtime, “e.g. tax exemption for overtime or an active pension: more work must be more worthwhile”.
- The Union says “No to the heating law and no to the inheritance tax on the parental home”. The real estate transfer tax for the first owner-occupied property is to be reduced, and for the time being there should also be no additional requirements that would make construction more expensive.
- The CDU and CSU are calling for “a stop to all projects that burden companies with additional bureaucracy, higher duties and taxes or higher location costs”. In addition, the electricity tax must be reduced immediately to the necessary European minimum. According to the will of the Union parties, climate protection should work “primarily via market-based incentives instead of legal bans”.
- With a new innovation fund, financed from public and private funds, the CDU and CSU want to launch a “high-tech agenda” for Germany. “The first quantum computer, the first nuclear fusion reactor, the first European AI – we want these innovations to say ‘Made in Germany’,” the paper says.
- The Union calls for “a significant reduction in illegal migration” and also emphasizes: “As long as Europe’s external borders are not effectively protected, we must protect our national borders.”
- Among other things, the CDU and CSU are demanding “immediate expulsions” for foreign clan members. For clan members with a German passport – at least if there is reasonable suspicion of preparing further crimes – the so-called preventive detention should be extended.
- The Union wants “a women’s safety package and much tougher action against violence against women”. “We want to introduce an ankle bracelet to digitally monitor violent offenders and prevent violations of proximity bans,” says the joint paper.
- In addition to a permanent increase in defense spending, the Union calls for “a NATO arms agreement”. “The NATO countries among themselves should free themselves from regulations on arms exports or public procurement law,” it said. A defense alliance should not fail because of administrative bureaucracy.
“With these decisions, we can give people in Germany more confidence in our democracy and more legal certainty in our state,” argue the CDU and CSU. “We face up to the political discussion at all political levels. But we don’t allow honest citizens of our country to ask themselves whether they can still express their opinion without being discredited for it. We defend ourselves against a morally excessive one Narrowing of public discourse.”