(DE-News.net) – The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz (SPD), wants to talk to the parliamentary group leader of the Union parties in the German Bundestag, Friedrich Merz (CDU), about his proposed ‘Germany Pact.’ Scholz had previously proposed the pact in a general debate in the German Bundestag. The Union parties said – without specifying a time frame – that economic competitiveness and job security would have to be taken into account as priorities in possible discussions. Opposition leader Merz, while showing willingness to talk, said illegal migration was the “biggest problem.” However, he added that before Scholz seeks majorities outside his governing coalition, he must first create order in the latter.
According to Scholz’s ideas, states, municipalities and the opposition should discuss how Germany can be modernized. Scholz mentioned as possible points the energy supply, housing construction, competitiveness and greater proximity to citizens through the digitalization of administration. The environmental protection law should, in the future, be handled according to EU rules, so that it will no longer be overloaded with specific German rules.
Migration, relief for companies and for the citizens
The German district council called for particular attention to be paid to immigration, which could no longer be managed. The Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) noted that bureaucratic hurdles should not be built up any further. The President of the German Economic Institute, Hüther, proposed abolishing the solidarity surcharge in order to promote investment. The Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff (CDU), on his part, made similar comments to the district council. Migration is an important issue because it leads to unnecessary burdens, he said. But tax losses suffered by states and municipalities also need to be assessed.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst criticized the Germany Pact, pointing out that the traffic light coalition was already implementing projects that should now be advertised. The Federal Government, according to Wüst, has lost time in accelerating planning. The Parliamentary Secretary of the CSU in the Bundestag, Stefan Müller, made a similar statement, adding that citizens need to be noticeably relieved and that immigration into the German social systems must be stopped.
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) had previously said that the number one issue was migration. For example, return agreements need to be negotiated with more countries. The President of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), Dulger, emphasized that action counts when it comes to reducing bureaucratic hurdles and speeding up approval processes. Business start-ups and innovations need to be promoted more than they are now. Dulger considers the Germany pact to be fundamentally positive.
Merz would do things differently as Chancellor
Even before Scholz’s announcement of the Germany Pact, Merz had announced that if the Union parties came into government after the next Federal Elections, projects of the current government such as the heating law, which made no technological sense and involved much bureaucracy, would be canceled. Taxes and duties such as electricity tax, but also corporate taxes, would be reduced, the Union parties taking over. The overall tax burden for companies – previously in reality more than 31 percent – should then be a maximum of 25 percent. There will also no longer be a solidarity surcharge, which will lead to noticeable relief, in case of a government led by the Union parties. Photovoltaics and wind power are not sufficient for electricity supply, emphasized Merz.
The CDU chairman also spoke out against the legalization of cannabis. The protection of children and young people is not sufficiently guaranteed, he argued. Asylum applications could total 300,000 by the end of the current year. This is too much, he said. Therefore, the external borders need to be better protected. Low-skilled persons should be increasingly placed in the labor market. On the other hand, Merz emphasized that he can imagine slightly increasing the top tax rate for private individuals. The Free Democratic Party rejects a higher top tax rate.
