Following the booing directed at Friedrich Merz (CDU) during an event, Carsten Linnemann, the CDU General Secretary, deemed dialogue with trade unions necessary. He criticized the government for not adequately explaining reforms, which undermines the credibility of politics. “We must be careful that the fronts in Germany do not harden,” said Linnemann.
He pointed to the economic situation, which has been characterized by zero growth since 2019. Linnemann stated, “In the history of the Federal Republic, we have had six major recessions, but all were shorter.” This situation has direct implications for people’s lives and political credibility.
The CDU General Secretary highlighted that there have been advances in key areas such as basic security, corporate taxation, and illegal migration. “Our goal is to maintain competitiveness and thus prosperity in our country,” Linnemann added.
A central concern is to tackle the high labor costs driven by rising contributions for pensions, care, and health. “We need to stop the increase,” he demands. Linnemann emphasizes that respectful debates about reforms are necessary to prevent the political discourse from becoming coarse.
In the next coalition committee, topics such as tax reform and ancillary wage costs will be addressed. Linnemann is optimistic that progress can be made through better communication with trade unions and employer associations.
