Incumbent Vice-Chancellor Habeck was quick to attack
previous federal governments under the Union’s; Christian Democratic Union
(CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), leadership,
blaming them for current problems in the country.
While acknowledging that the ruling ‘traffic light
coalition’ (coalition of Social Democratic Party (SPD), Free Democratic Party
(FDP) and the Greens) is to blame, Habeck argued that the bigger blame must be
placed on the Union.
“The investment gaps that we see, the lack of money in
education, in bridges, in the trains, these did not arise from the governing
coalition alone. On the contrary, we tried to do everything possible to plug
the gaps and fix them, but the situation arose long, long, long before that.
In an effort to further stress his argument, Habeck
criticised the record of previous CSU transport ministers, listing by name
“[Peter] Ramsauer, [Andreas] Scheuer and [Alexander] Dobrindt”, adding that
Germany’s current economic problems are a result of their policies.
Habeck moved to brand his party as one of solutions and passion
for improving the country.
"The reality will not change after election day. No
matter which party gets which vote, we will find the same reality. It will not
change that people in Germany are afraid for their jobs, that social anxiety
has gripped the country again. These are real problems that will not disappear,
even if the governing majority changes. That is why we need to provide answers
in this election campaign that take these and other problems seriously and
provide answers that are as big as the problems themselves.”
Promoting himself as the candidate to achieve this
mountainous task he added "for the future, for a policy that gives the
answers that fit our times, we need a strong Green Party and I will embody that
with all my strength and all my passion, for the future.”
But the candidate for Germany’s top job didn’t end his
criticism of competition there. Habeck continued to target the Union who
currently top the polls stating that their leadership and candidates are only
making claims of improvement but have not provided material evidence of any plans
to achieve their promises.
“The Union pretends that everything is very simple and that
strong men only have to make strong statements and then the problems will be
solved. The reality is much more complex. We have embarked on a critically
important path, it is an European solution and this European solution must be
implemented. This is what will order and sort the migration movements in Europe
and then also in Germany.”
The Greens say they want to tackle issues and concerns that
relate to the majority, such as rising rents, proposing to implement rent caps
to relieve the burden off ordinary Germans. The party also wants to create tax
incentives for investments to boost the economy and stimulate growth, to
achieve their goals of making normal life “affordable again”.
CSU party chairman Markus Söder hosted the group’s first
winter retreat in preparation for the upcoming election in Bavaria’s Seeon
Monastery.
Söder wants to foster the German economy, implement a
stricter asylum policy and increase investment, both in quantity and speed, into
modern technologies and military defence sectors.
“Recession, depression, inflation. The overall omens for the
economic situation are extraordinarily difficult. When prosperity wobbles,
democracy wobbles, too. In this respect, the important thing now is not to
organize a change of government, but to bring about an actual change of
direction and policy.”
“Bankruptcies are on the rise, unemployment is increasing,
investments are disappearing and companies are fundamentally dissatisfied.
Germany's economic model is shaky,” added Söder.
The CSU has also stated that it will not prioritize Green
economic policies, calling them ineffective and expensive.
“Promoting performance through tax cuts instead of citizens'
income. That has to go. There needs to be a commitment to a sensible energy
policy, namely nuclear energy, instead of experiments such as the heating law.”
The Bavarian party also wants to attract attention and set
itself apart by taking a tough line on migration policies. Notes from the
meeting indicated that they plan that they also want to implement harsher
punishment for migrants who commit crimes in the country, suggesting lengthy
prison terms or deportation.
The group also wants to amend the rights of residence for
migrants, seeking to implement a system where a migrant’s legal status is
linked to a job, income and lack of permanent access to social benefits and
welfare.
Söder also stressed that they will not be seeking a large
coalition of parties in the upcoming election, and have moved to rule out any
possibility of a coalition with the Greens.
“The more parties, the worse the instability. It's no use,
as we've already seen. The traffic light porridge didn't taste good because
there were too many different spices in it.” He continued saying “We don't
believe that the Greens are competent to govern.”
Their sister CDU party however have not ruled out such a
coalition, instead opting to keep their options open. The CSU chairman warned
that if they continue to propagate a black and green coalition, it will hurt
their electoral chances, stressing that it will drive many voters to other
parties “definitely the AfD (Alternative for Germany)”.
Söder also says that his campaign will look to rapidly boost
the growth of one of Germany’s globally renowned exports, the auto industry.
Söder says their campaign will prioritise supporting electric cars – or e-cars
– produced in Germany, saying special premiums will be rolled out to ail their
growth which will subsequently strengthen the German economy.
The meeting is set to continue for three-days, with the
final day, Wednesday, featuring a speech by the CDU chancellor candidate
Friedrich Merz, whom the CSU are launching a joint election program with.
Representatives from the business world as well as foreign
politicians from Greece and Luxembourg were also reportedly invited to the
event.
Courtesy: Euronews
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