Gordon Schnieder, the CDU’s leading candidate in Rhineland‑Palatinate, criticised proposals from CSU chairman Markus Söder to add an extra hour of work per week. Schnieder also rejected the idea of a union‑aligned economic council to remove dental costs from public health coverage. He called such short‑circuited public proposals “not serious” saying on Monday to the news channel “Welt” that people across the state are aware that a reform of the social system is needed. What they do not need is uncertainty or sensational headlines-especially from organisations that may be close to the party but are not actually the party’s own associations. Such headlines understandably create resentment. Instead of airing a reform package publicly, Schnieder said they should discuss it privately.
He specifically addressed his criticism to Markus Söder, arguing that a rushed, headline‑driven debate is the wrong approach. “People realise that we need reforms” he said. “We’ve talked repeatedly about how to create incentives so that people can work more-and that we want to work more too”. He added that he would not accept Söder’s suggestion of adding an hour “around the corner”. Instead, the commission should work on the proposals, and the party should discuss them seriously rather than through the media, as that gives a misleading picture and misleads workers. Schnieder warned that the focus on the next headline is not serious and that they should avoid that approach.