CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann called for improved communication regarding the government’s upcoming reform projects. Speaking to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” (FAS), he argued that the public is not supportive if they only perceive higher co-payments for medication without understanding the underlying reasons for the changes.
Linnemann cited former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) as a positive example, noting that Schröder successfully told the public a compelling story about the reforms, explaining that the measures were not just about austerity, but also about economic growth fueled by increased employment. He stated that this “clever narrative” is crucial. He also suggested that current Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) could benefit from adopting similar addresses, though he cautioned that it takes time for such messages to sink into the public consciousness.
The General Secretary also defended his party’s current shift toward incorporating social partners into the reform process. He emphasized the necessity of building consensus, stating, “We must ensure that fronts in Germany do not harden”. He confirmed that the coalition intends to engage in discussions with both trade unions and employer associations, aiming to prevent the political environment from becoming overly polarized.
Listing the planned income tax reform as the most difficult challenge, Linnemann pointed to the controversy surrounding its counter-financing. While he expressed openness to a higher tax on the wealthy, he insisted that tax measures must be structured carefully to avoid negatively impacting craftspeople and the small and medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, a better system needs to be developed for how capital companies, for example, can be taxed.
In contrast, Linnemann expressed confidence regarding the forthcoming pension reform. He stated that he believes Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) will successfully implement the findings of the relevant expert commission. He added that this reform is not aimed at cutting pensions, and in fact, the overall level of provision is expected to rise due to company pensions and private provisions.