Heidi Reichinnek, head of the West German Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, sharply criticized the CDU Economic Council’s proposals to limit unemployment benefits to twelve months and to abolish the “Mothers’ Pension” and the so‑called “Pension at 63”. “It’s astonishing how precisely everything that comes from Union circles aiming to reform existing systems turns out to be nothing more than a slap in the face of the majority of people in the country” she told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. Reichinnek argued that the fact the Economic Council would even dare to put forward such a paper shows that the Union is now filled with those who measure the worth of fellow citizens solely in terms of their labour.
Meanwhile, Daniel Peters, the CDU’s top candidate for the Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern state election this fall, warned against “side‑battle theatres” in the debate on social reforms and said the multitude of proposals was little help in the campaign. “It’s normal that there will be a colourful bouquet of ideas before the federal party conference” Peters said to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland ahead of the CDU party conference in about two weeks. “Even bad ideas can be expressed. As a campaigning state association, I still wish for more focus on what really matters and no side‑battles”.
Peters added that he would welcome a shift in the political centre of attention away from excessive bureaucracy, inefficient social, tax and planning law, and outrageously high energy costs. He criticized the recent initiative of the CDU Economic Council-a party‑aligned business association-against privatising all dental treatments, calling it “an extremely bad idea” especially since many dental services are already paid privately. “Dental health must not depend on one’s wallet” he urged.