The General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Carsten Linnemann, has urged an end to coalition discussions surrounding potential tax increases In statements to the Funke Media Group publications released Sunday, Linnemann asserted, “The coalition agreement contains no tax increases and there will be none
Linnemann characterized the debate as unproductive, arguing that focusing on marginal percentage point increases in taxation distracts from more pressing issues “Our prosperity is eroding and AI is dramatically changing the world – and we are debating for days about a few percentage points on this or that tax That doesn’t move Germany forward” he stated
He appealed to his coalition partners to prioritize action and build on recent progress, citing the experience in migration policy as a positive example “The start wasn’t without flaws, but everyone has learned from it and everyone understands the responsibility we carry The crucial thing is that mistakes are not repeated”
Looking ahead to planned social reforms, the General Secretary emphasized the need to improve efficiency within the healthcare system He advocated for expanding bonus programs offered by health insurance providers, suggesting that patients should be incentivized for taking greater responsibility for their own health He also indicated a willingness to explore adjustments in access to medical care, potentially requiring patients to travel further for specialized treatments
When questioned about the possibility of benefit reductions, Linnemann responded that significant funds already exist within the system that could be deployed more effectively and strategically He acknowledged that changes are inevitable, such as alterations in treatment methods or the concentration of specialist care, but emphasized that these issues are currently under consideration by relevant commissions and that it would be inappropriate to preempt their findings