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Armin Laschet prevailed against Friedrich Merz in the election for CDU party leadership.
Arndt G. Kirchhoff is the president of the company in North Rhine-Westphalia and knows both Merz and Laschet well.
In the WELT interview he speaks about the election result, its consequences and the demands of business against the Christian Democrats.
WORLD:
Mr. Kirchhoff, the new CDU leader is Armin Laschet.
Is that an election result in your favor?
Arndt Kirchhoff:
That remains to be seen.
Because there are clear expectations of the new CDU boss from business and companies, and thus also from me: a courageous and groundbreaking economic policy.
In the past few years, the party's economic profile has been severely watered down, if not lost.
There is a lot of catching up to do.
Arndt G. Kirchhoff, President of North Rhine-Westphalia
Source: Wilfried Meyer
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WORLD:
Economic policy is considered to be Friedrich Merz's strength.
Kirchhoff:
That's right.
But Armin Laschet also moved a lot here in North Rhine-Westphalia with his economic policy and clearly brought the state forward.
In a comparison of the federal states, NRW is no longer at the bottom.
Nevertheless, it certainly makes sense to involve Friedrich Merz and give him a senior position.
WORLD:
He did not want to be elected to the CDU presidium.
In return, he offered to become Minister of Economic Affairs immediately.
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Kirchhoff:
Economic policy is his strength.
From an economic point of view, it would be an excellent choice.
In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has not been strong and assertive enough in recent years.
I also remember the widely advertised industrial paper - at first, medium-sized companies were completely forgotten.
And in the Corona crisis there has recently been a massive problem.
Now the November aid will not be paid until January.
It's about livelihoods and lots of jobs.
Large parts of the entrepreneurship are really extremely angry.
Our country could use a breath of fresh air in economic policy.
In any case, I expressly welcome the fact that Friedrich Merz wants to help and does not withdraw into the pout.
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WORLD:
Angela Merkel, whose cabinet is at stake, has already declined and announced that there should be no government reshuffle.
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Kirchhoff:
Then I hope that the existing federal government will take strengthening the business location more seriously again.
The follow-up costs of the corona crisis will burden the country.
The necessary money still has to be generated.
To do this, it is important to strengthen the economy and not to weaken it further as in previous years.
WORLD:
Which economic policy course do you call for?
Kirchhoff:
Germany is no longer competitive in many areas.
We have the highest energy prices, taxes that are too high, very high social costs and at the same time we are lagging far behind in terms of digitization.
We urgently need to act.
Only if corporate taxes and, above all, energy prices fall, will there be significantly more investments.
Otherwise, the emigration will continue and Germany will lose further parts of the industry, above all in the basic materials, for example in chemistry, steel or also in the areas of paper, cement and plastics.
However, Corona has only just shown how dangerous it is when the relevant industries are no longer in your own country.
WORLD:
Armin Laschet himself says that he stands for the continuation of the Merkel course.
Kirchhoff:
There doesn't have to be a political turnaround in every area.
I have described what is wrong.
And Armin Laschet will be able to influence the course in a completely different way in the future and involve the appropriate people.
In the end, it all comes down to the right team.
And he has always proven that Laschet is not a sun king, but a team player.
I think that's a strength.
WORLD:
What other strengths do you see?
Kirchhoff:
Laschet is level-headed and balanced, but at the same time energetic and combative.
He can keep society together and take people away.
He's certainly more balanced than Friedrich Merz with his rough edges.
In addition, as Prime Minister he has shown leadership.
All in all, it certainly offers the better overall package.
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WORLD:
Would you also like Laschet to be a candidate for Chancellor?
Kirchhoff:
I trust him to do that.
But the CDU and CSU have to agree on that.
In principle, however, I do not think it is out of the question to separate party leadership and candidate for chancellor.
One can flow into the other, but does not necessarily have to be.
WORLD: In
the end, the result was close with a difference of just 55 votes among 1001 delegates.
Is the CDU now divided?
Kirchhoff:
I don't see that - and I don't hope so either.
Because that would be fatal for the party.
I expected that it would be close between the two of them.
Different opinions and wings belong to it and are also important for a party.
In the end, however, all are democrats and have to accept results, look ahead and stand together despite competition.
But I also assume that we are not in America.
In addition, the example of the SPD shows how quickly a crash can happen.
In the end, that is bad for the entire country.
WORLD:
Above all, the women in the CDU have mobilized against Friedrich Merz ...
Kirchhoff:
... which I cannot understand.
This campaign wasn't fair.
Just because he's a bit more jagged, Friedrich Merz doesn't automatically have something against women, because he is misunderstood and a false reputation is attached to him.
But that happens quickly on social media these days.