CDU Leader Friedrich Merz Expresses Skepticism Over CSU’s Demand for Increased Mother’s Allowance
CDU leader Friedrich Merz has expressed skepticism over the CSU’s demand for an increase in the mother’s allowance, stating that the party must consider the current financial situation. In an interview with the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”, Merz emphasized the importance of building up kindergarten infrastructure and providing more childcare options for families.
For the first 100 days of a potential chancellorship, Merz has announced relief for the economy, stricter sanctions for the basic allowance and rejections at the borders. “For us, the first 100 days will be about three main themes: the economy, the labor market and migration. The economy needs to regain reliability from us” Merz said to the RND. “This includes tax relief for companies and a swift bureaucracy reduction by revoking the Supply Chain Act.”
Merz added that the system of the so-called “basic allowance” will be reformed, stating that the groundwork, such as stricter sanctions, is already being prepared in the Ministry of Labor. The Union will also no longer use the term “basic allowance”, the party leader emphasized.
Merz considers a 2% annual economic growth rate as “ambitious but achievable”. “If one looks at the IWF and OECD’s forecasts, then with the right political decisions, we could be back in the top group of the European Union and the Eurozone in four years” he said.
In the event of a election victory, Merz is considering appointing an external candidate to the newly proposed Digital Ministry. “I’m seriously thinking about it” he said in response to a question about whether he would choose an external candidate for the job. “We have very good and very clever digital politicians in the faction. It’s just that the transformation experience of how to shift a large apparatus from analog to digital, we don’t have that in politics. And it might not be a bad idea if someone from outside comes in.