The parliamentary leader of the CDU faction in the German Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, has called for a reduction in government spending, specifically on the citizen’s allowance and renewable energy subsidies. According to Frei, the current system of subsidies is in need of a closer examination and the CDU cannot sustain the 50 billion euros in annual spending on the citizen’s allowance.
Frei also expressed a desire to reduce the subsidies for the expansion of wind and solar energy, which are currently financed through the EEG, a renewable energy law. The CDU leader stated that the government could achieve its goals with 17 billion euros in subsidies, rather than the 18.5 billion euros allocated in 2024.
The CDU’s proposed cuts in government spending stand in contrast to the 89 billion euros in annual revenue the government is expected to lose due to the planned tax cuts and other measures, according to calculations by the German Institute for Economic Affairs, an employer-based think tank.
Frei praised the performance of CDU leader Friedrich Merz, calling his campaign a “coherent work.” He also defended the CDU’s joint voting with the AfD, stating that such a situation would not occur again after the upcoming federal election, when the CDU is expected to form a stable government under Merz’s leadership.
The CDU’s joint voting with the AfD has been criticized, with former Chancellor Angela Merkel calling on Merz to take responsibility for his actions. Merkel stated that it was wrong to enable a majority with the AfD’s votes, even if it was a one-time occurrence. The recent protests, which drew over 300,000 participants across the country, also targeted the CDU’s joint voting with the AfD.