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Friedrich Merz warned against the social democratization of the party during the presidency of the CDU. "We do not have to badume all the positions that the Social Democrats find correct," said Tuesday the former European Union faction leader at a regional conference of his party in Böblingen.
The question was whether, in the future, the CDU wanted to be a liberal, conservative and socially convincing party. Merz received a lot of applause for his speech. Chancellor Angela Merkel, long-time leader of the CDU, had been repeatedly accused by the conservative wing of turning the left party.
Merz said the CDU must openly admit that in recent years it has not sufficiently absorbed the "uncomfortable issues" of society. The positions of the CDU were no longer clear enough.
Merz for basic tax reform
Specifically, Merz criticized the pension policy of the black-red coalition in retirement. He also advocated for a fundamental tax reform. The performances should be valid again, said Merz. In particular, members of the CDU in Baden-Wuerttemberg, which enjoyed a strong economy, applauded a lot.
Merz's rival, general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, went on the offensive. During her visit to the CDU's parliamentary group in Stuttgart, Ms Merz repeatedly reiterated that she had been criticized against the party's previous party line.
The promising third CDU presidency, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, said when appointing AfD: "I believe that we have a shared responsibility, that they now sit in 16 national legislatures and the Bundestag, lost because the problems have not been solved in a concrete way ".
Kramp-Karrenbauer in turn appealed to the party unit. "All those running for this election must, as the president and now as a candidate, ensure that the party is more closed and stronger the first day after the congress."
CSU and FDP review
During the evening in Böblingen, the three candidates agreed on at least one point: they all voted in favor of a total removal of the solidarity surcharge until 2021 and a reconciliation of VAT rates.
Merz went even further. He pronounced in favor of an increase in the VAT rate on the hotel sector, which had been reduced by the black and yellow coalition in 2010. "The CSU and the FDP have registered us, but the It was worth the effort, "said Merz. At the beginning of 2010, the overnight rate in hotels was reduced from 19% to 7%.
Merz has also proposed an adjustment of the so-called cold progression every two or three years. This is because the additional taxation is only because the tax rates are not adjusted for inflation.
"Coping when a woman follows a woman"
Kramp-Karrenbauer is criticized for strengthening the AfD. In this context, she spoke of a "failure" of her party. The population and members of the CDU reportedly felt that the party had not sufficiently taken into account their concerns and "legitimate fears".
Kramp-Karrenbauer added that she also practiced self-criticism on this issue as Secretary General, "because in recent years I have been part of this business".
In an interview with the newspaper, Kramp-Karrenbauer defended himself against critics claiming that a woman was once again at the head of the party. She asks after 18 years that Merkel is now a man again in the lead, and she answered in the "Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung": strong enough to face when a woman follows a woman ".
The decision on the presidency of the CDU will be taken at the party congress in Hamburg on 7 December. The long-time leader of the CDU, Merkel, no longer competes. The Chancellor wants to stay. Böblingen will be followed by regional conferences in Düsseldorf on Wednesday, in Bremen on Thursday and at the end in Berlin on Friday.
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