German voters will go to the polls on 24 September for federal elections. But what do the country’s parties want? What are the possible coalitions? And who has the best campaign strategy to sell their proposals to the electorate? In the first of a series of articles analysing each of the main parties’ campaign pledges, Julian Göpffarth assesses the programme of Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU

Göpffarth, Julian

LSE Research Online

German	election	campaign	series:	CDU/CSU	–	“Fora	Germany	in	which	we	live	well	and	enjoy	living”German	voters	will	go	to	the	polls	on	24	September	for	federal	elections.	But	what	do	the	country’sparties	want?	What	are	the	possible	coalitions?	And	who	has	the	best	campaign	strategy	to	selltheir	proposals	to	the	electorate?	In	the	first	of	a	series	of	articles	analysing	each	of	the	mainparties’	campaign	pledges,	Julian	Göpffarth	assesses	the	programme	of	Angela	Merkel’sCDU/CSU.After	four	tumultuous	years,	the	CDU/CSU	embodies	the	principle	of	getting	“back	to	normal”	afterthe	Eurozone	and	migration	crises	as	well	as	months	of	terror	and	international	instability.	The	two-party	coalitionof	the	Christian	Democratic	Union	and	the	Bavaria	based	Christian	Social	Union	were	the	last	to	reveal	theirprogramme	ahead	of	the	2017	elections.	Instead	of	putting	forward	their	proposals	at	a	party	conference,	likemost	other	parties	did,	the	programme	was	presented	by	Angela	Merkel	and	her	former	major	critic,	CSU	leaderHorst	Seehofer,	during	a	somewhat	sombre	press	conference.The	core	aim	of	the	programme	is	to	obtain	full	employment	by	2025.	This	has	been	presented	as	a	realistic	goalas	Germany’s	present	economic	situation	is	as	good	as	it	has	ever	been:	decreasing	unemployment,	risingsalaries	and	pensions,	well-functioning	and	well-financed	welfare	institutions,	as	well	as	a	high	degree	of	innersecurity.	The	programme	portrays	these	achievements	as	the	success	of	the	past	three	Merkel-led	governments,without	referring	to	the	Agenda	2010	reforms	introduced	by	her	social	democratic	predecessor	Gerhard	Schröderor	its	long-term	coalition	partner,	the	social	democrat	SPD.	Some	measures	such	as	the	minimum	wage,	stronglyopposed	in	the	past	by	the	CDU/CSU	and	introduced	under	the	pressure	of	its	coalition	partner,	the	SPD,	arenow	portrayed	as	a	self-evident	part	of	the	parties’	main	policies.What	future?	Security,	taxation	and	familyAs	for	the	future,	the	party	puts	a	strong	emphasis	on	supply	side	policies	opposing	the	SPD’s	focus	on	demandside	measure	and	social	justice.	This	core	difference	is	symbolised	by	the	CDU/CSU’s	slogan	“social	is	whatcreates	jobs”,	which	serves	as	the	guideline	for	other	core	points	in	the	programme	such	as	economic	success,protection	of	the	environment,	security,	free	trade,	a	social	market	economy,	and	the	strengthening	of	theMittelstand	(medium-sized	companies)	and	families.	By	following	these	principles,	the	party	promises	a	Germanythat	is	an	“anchor	of	stability	in	the	world”	and	that	is	based	on	Christian-social,	liberal	and	conservative	values.LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) Blog: German election campaign series: CDU/CSU – “For a Germany in which we live well and enjoyliving”Page 1 of 3		Date originally posted: 2017-07-17Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/07/17/german-election-campaign-series-cdu-csu/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/The	CDU/CSU	programme,	titled:	“For	a	Germany	in	which	we	live	well	and	enjoy	living.”In	light	of	increasing	international	instability,	recurrent	terrorism	and	the	recent	G20	riots,	inner	security	hasappeared	as	one	of	the	core	issues	during	the	election	campaign.	As	a	result,	the	CDU/CSU	have	attempted	toportray	themselves	as	the	parties	of	inner	security.	The	programme	promises	to	increase	police	staff	by	15,000and	recalls	Merkel’s	now	famous	sentence	that	Europe	has	to	take	its	fate	into	its	own	hands.	Therefore,	theprogramme	aims	to	increase	the	defence	budget	to	2	percent	of	the	country’s	GDP.Besides	inner	security,	the	programme’s	focus	lies	on	taxation	issues.	Here	the	CDU/CSU	promise	to	ease	thetax	burden	on	the	Mittelstand	by	expanding	the	income	threshold	for	the	top	tax	rate	from	54,000	to	60,000	euros.Moreover,	the	programme	pledges	the	abolition	of	the	so-called	solidarity	tax	–	a	tax	introduced	after	the	Germanreunification	to	finance	the	rebuilding	of	the	new	East	German	states.	Another	core	focus	is	the	German	family.The	programme	calls,	for	example,	for	a	legal	right	to	all-day-care	for	children	under	10	years,	an	increase	ofchild	allowances,	and	a	reduction	of	taxes	for	those	who	buy	their	first	home.Surprisingly,	asylum	and	immigration	policies	only	play	a	marginal	role	in	the	programme	and	are	subsumed	in	afew	paragraphs	under	the	point	inner	security.	There	is	no	real	differentiation	between	asylum	seekers	andmigrants	and	the	focus	lies	on	a	reduction	of	migration	and	a	more	effective	deportation	of	those	asylum	seekerswhose	application	has	been	rejected.	One	bullet	point	calls	for	the	introduction	of	a	coherent	immigration	law	forskilled	workers,	however	without	going	into	details.	The	programme	tries	to	avoid	any	longer	discussion	of	thetopic,	arguably	to	veil	the	divergence	between	the	CDU	and	CSU	on	migration	and	asylum	policy,	and	also	toprevent	it	from	becoming	a	major	campaigning	topic	(something	that	would	only	benefit	the	far	right	AfD).In	the	past,	the	issue	of	immigration	and	asylum	led	to	strong	tensions	between	the	CDU	and	CSU	with	Seehoferinsisting	on	an	Obergrenze,	a	maximum	limit	for	the	number	of	refugees	accepted	in	Germany.	Merkel	refused	toconcede	and	attempted	to	appease	right	wing	populist	claims	by	the	CSU	and	AfD	through	the	publication	of	awidely	discussed	paper	on	German	Leitkultur,	including	such	populist	slogans	as	“We	are	not	Burka”.	Thedominance	of	German	national	colours	on	the	official	campaign	posters	can	be	interpreted	as	another	symbolicconcession	to	right	wing	populist	pressure	both	from	the	CSU	and	the	AfD.	In	the	press	conference,	both	Merkeland	Seehofer	avoided	any	reference	to	past	divisions	and	presented	themselves	as	being	as	united	as	ever.	Thecontroversial	CSU	claims	are	mainly	absent	from	the	programme	and	will	be	articulated	through	an	extra	electionprogramme	the	CSU	will	present	for	Bavaria	only.Another	issue	that	is	not	touched	on	in	the	programme,	and	that	could	lead	to	tensions	among	both	parties,	is	theissue	of	same-sex	marriage.	While	both	parties	had	allegedly	agreed	on	having	an	open	vote	on	the	issue,	it	wasnot	supposed	to	happen	before	the	end	of	the	current	term,	but	rather	after	the	elections.	Merkel’s	recent	swiftchange	from	fundamental	opposition,	to	a	parliamentary	vote	on	the	matter,	which	she	allowed	to	happen	in	thelast	week	of	parliamentary	activity,	was	grudgingly	accepted	by	many	social	conservatives	in	the	party	in	order	topreserve	party	unity.	However,	this	tolerance	was	often	accompanied	by	the	statement	that	the	last	word	has	tobe	spoken	by	the	constitutional	court,	a	sign	that	the	peace	is	only	provisional	and	that	dividing	lines	are	likely	toreappear	in	the	future.Europe	and	BrexitThe	programme	calls	for	a	stronger	Europe	and	directly	refers	to	pro-European	movements	(the	“pulse	ofEurope”)	as	well	as	(more	implicitly)	Macron’s	pro-European	victory	as	a	chance	to	reform	Europe	to	meet	futurechallenges.	In	the	programme,	Europe	primarily	figures	as	a	guarantor	of	stability	and	security,	complemented	bybut	also	more	independent	from	NATO	–	hence	the	call	for	an	increase	of	the	German	defence	budget.In	terms	of	economic	policies,	the	programme	underlines	Germany’s	readiness	to	show	solidarity,	especially	withthose	Eurozone	countries	suffering	high	rates	of	youth	unemployment.	However,	it	rejects	the	introduction	of	acommon	Eurozone	debt	and	calls	instead	for	a	deepening	of	integration	in	the	Eurozone	in	a	joint	effort	withFrance	by	establishing	a	common	monetary	fund.	In	a	paragraph	solely	on	Brexit,	the	CDU/CSU	emphasise	thatstrong	economic	and	political	ties	will	remain	important	in	the	future	and	that	negative	consequences	for	citizensand	the	economy	should	be	kept	within	a	limit.	At	the	same	time,	however,	it	makes	clear	that	“Whoever	decidesto	leave	the	EU,	will	not	be	able	to	continue	to	benefit	from	all	the	privileges	of	the	community”.LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) Blog: German election campaign series: CDU/CSU – “For a Germany in which we live well and enjoyliving”Page 2 of 3		Date originally posted: 2017-07-17Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/07/17/german-election-campaign-series-cdu-csu/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/A	whole	subchapter	is	dedicated	to	the	importance	of	the	Franco-German	relationship	for	Europe.	Theprogramme	calls	for	a	revival	of	the	“Franco-German	engine	for	Europe”	and,	more	specifically,	for	theharmonisation	of	corporation	tax	between	both	countries	as	well	as	more	collaboration	in	the	field	of	artificialintelligence.	The	goal	here	is	to	develop	the	area	of	artificial	intelligence	technology	as	a	“great	European	project”in	the	tradition	of	Airbus	and	Ariane.A	lack	of	substance?Even	to	many	conservative	commentators	it	seems	clear	that	the	CDU/CSU’s	strategy	is	to	rely	on	what	has	beenachieved	so	far.	It	falls	short	of	being	an	ambitious	programme	for	the	future,	and	is	rather	a	call	for	thecontinuation	of	a	successful	status	quo	while	integrating	a	plethora	of	points	ranging	from	far	right	symbolism	(theemphasis	on	national	identity)	to	centre-left	labour	market	policies	that	are	branded	as	their	own.The	conservative-liberal	newspaper	Frankfurter	Allgemeine	Zeitung	even	sees	the	programme	as	being	too	closeto	the	SPD’s	positions,	arguing	that	it	would	not	really	touch	the	(in	their	eyes)	rigid	labour	laws	that	wereintroduced	under	the	pressure	of	the	SPD	in	the	grand	coalition.	However,	most	of	the	points	proposed	are	soconsensus-oriented	that	they	are	unlikely	to	provoke	any	major	public	debate.	Most	propositions	remain	vague,and	only	few	embody	concrete	visions	for	the	future.	Merkel’s	message	is	the	same	as	in	previous	elections:	“Youknow	me”.	Why	risk	something	new	if	Germany’s	economy	is	roaring	and	the	country’s	standing	in	Europe	andthe	world	is	stronger	than	ever	before?The	choice	of	the	programme	title,	which	is	at	the	same	time	the	core	campaign	slogan,	confirms	the	feeling	that‘everything	is	alright’	and	‘nothing	really	has	to	change’	are	the	CDU/CSU’s	guiding	principles.	“For	a	Germany	inwhich	we	live	well	and	enjoy	living”	expresses	exactly	this:	we	like	Germany	the	way	it	is	now	and	the	futureshould	be	more	of	the	same.	Even	if	its	banality	suggests	otherwise,	the	slogan	is	the	product	of	the	renownedand	highly	successful	PR-agency	Jung	von	Matt,	who	have	already	developed	successful	campaigns	for	majorGerman	companies.	It	is	an	agency	that	seems	to	make	sure	to	support	“products”	that	already	have	a	strongbasis	for	success.	And	according	to	its	founder	Jean-Remy	von	Matt,	the	agency	has	never	had	a	“more	superiorproduct	than	Merkel”	to	sell.Please	read	our	comments	policy	before	commenting.Note:	This	article	gives	the	views	of	the	author,	and	not	the	position	of	EUROPP	–	European	Politics	and	Policy,nor	of	the	London	School	of	Economics._________________________________About	the	authorJulian	Göpffarth	–	LSEJulian	Göpffarth	is	a	PhD	candidate	at	the	at	the	London	School	of	Economics.	He	holds	a	degree	inEuropean	Studies	from	Sciences	Po	Paris	and	the	London	School	of	Economics	and	PoliticalScience.	Prior	to	his	PhD	he	has	worked	for	the	European	Parliamentary	Research	Service.	Hisresearch	interests	include	nationalist	ideologies,	radicalization,	European	politics	and	philosophy.LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) Blog: German election campaign series: CDU/CSU – “For a Germany in which we live well and enjoyliving”Page 3 of 3		Date originally posted: 2017-07-17Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/07/17/german-election-campaign-series-cdu-csu/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/

German election campaign series: CDU/CSU - "For a Germany in which we live well and enjoy living"

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