The CDU presents the draft for a new basic program. Most affected: asylum, pension and labor market policy. An overview.
The CDU is pushing for a radical system change in asylum policy, commitment to a German dominant culture and nuclear power as well as reforms in pension and labor market policy. This emerges from the first draft of the new CDU basic program, which was presented to the party’s top committees on Monday. It is available to the German Press Agency in Berlin. In the afternoon, the head of the CDU policy commission, General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, wanted to present the 70-page draft. With the basic program entitled “Live in freedom. Lead Germany safely into the future”, the CDU wants to lay the foundations for a change of power.
The new basic program is to be officially approved by the board at a meeting on January 12th and 13th in Heidelberg. The draft will then be discussed with the members and then approved by the 1,001 delegates at the party conference in May. The CDU initiated the process of a new basic program after losing power in the 2021 federal election. The current basic program dates back to 2007.
Key points of the draft:
Migration: concept of safe third countries
According to the draft, anyone who applies for asylum in Europe should be transferred to a safe third country and undergo a procedure there. “In the event of a positive outcome, the safe third country will grant the applicant protection on site.” A comprehensive contractual agreement should be concluded with safe third countries.
Humanitarian contingents
The draft stipulates that after the third country concept has been successfully established, “a coalition of the willing within the EU will annually accept a contingent of vulnerable people from abroad and distribute them among the coalition members.” With a quota there would be an upper limit for immigration – but the CDU does not give a specific number.
Leading culture: Confession to Israel’s right to exist
“Everyone who wants to live here must recognize our guiding culture without any ifs and buts.” This included respect for the dignity of every human being, basic and human rights, the rule of law, respect and tolerance “as well as the recognition of Israel’s right to exist. “Only those who are committed to our dominant culture can integrate and become German citizens.”
Extremism: “Sharia does not belong to Germany”
The fight is against those who stir up hatred and violence and strive for an Islamist order. “Sharia does not belong to Germany.” The draft states: “Muslims who share our values belong to Germany.” The CDU is also distancing itself from a sentence made by then Federal President Christian Wulff (CDU), who said in 2010: “Islam now also belongs to Germany.”
Compulsory social year and language tests
The draft provides for a compulsory social year for all school leavers based on a uniform regulation. This is “a great opportunity to strengthen cohesion in our society.” Every child should take a uniform and compulsory language test at the age of four.
Pension: There is a lot to be said for increasing working lives
If pensions are to be kept affordable, “there is much to suggest that the working lifespan of those who can work must increase, and that the standard retirement age should therefore be linked to life expectancy.” Mandatory funded pension provision should be introduced for everyone – government subsidies are needed for people with low incomes. In order to make work attractive in old age, an “active pension” should be introduced. Anyone who wants to continue working voluntarily after reaching statutory retirement age should have their salary tax-free up to a certain amount.
Budget: Against shadow households
Solid finances are a requirement of intergenerational justice – “the guarantee of this is the debt brake.” Shadow budgets such as debt-financed special funds are fundamentally rejected because they make it difficult to adhere to the principles of budgetary truth and clarity. Debt-financed special funds “may only be set up in extremely exceptional cases and may not later be reallocated for other purposes”.
Labor market: full-time overtime is tax-free
Small and medium incomes should be relieved and working pensioners should be given better tax treatment. “Anyone who receives social benefits and can work should work.” Anyone who wants to work more than before should find attractive conditions to do so. “That’s why we want to make overtime tax-free for full-time employees.”
The Bundeswehr should be used to avert danger internally
In special threat situations, In areas where only the Bundeswehr has specific capabilities to avert danger, it must also be allowed to be deployed domestically. The Bundeswehr’s serious capability gaps would have to be closed within ten years.
Energy: Instead of using coal, the aim is to use gas power plants in the next decade to secure the previously missing option for long-term storage of renewable energies and the necessary base loads. The CDU emphasizes: “Germany cannot currently do without the nuclear power option.”
Gender: The CDU is for gender-equitable language, “but against gender coercion”. The CDU wants “no grammatically incorrect gender language to be used in all authorities, schools, universities and other state institutions as well as in public broadcasting.”
Source: Stern
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