A senior figure from the Green Party has criticized the call for an “Agenda 2030” by the CDU’s General Secretary, Carsten Linnemann, suggesting the proposal is primarily intended to provoke the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens’ coalition partner.
Felix Banaszak, co-leader of the Green Party alongside Franziska Brantner, voiced his concerns to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers. He argued that the call should be seen as a provocation given the SPD’s previous experiences with a similar initiative, the “Agenda 2010”. Banaszak suggested that the move largely serves the purpose of political differentiation within the governing coalition.
He further questioned the increasing number of proposals for new agendas and commissions being put forward by elements within the government, characterizing them as “big words, flawed proposals and, in the end, just another new commission”. Banaszak emphasized that such initiatives do not contribute to the stability of the social welfare system and advocated for a shift towards practical, equitable solutions rather than repeated announcements.
The debate stems from a recent call by CDU General Secretary Linnemann who drew a parallel between Gerhard Schröder’s “Agenda 2010” reforms and the need for a new “Agenda 2030”. This reference was seemingly in response to comments made by SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, who highlighted the “bold reforms” implemented by Schröder during his time in office.