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Peter Altmaier has invited 40 associations to an "economic summit".

Almost a year after the outbreak of the catastrophic recession for many industries, the date on Tuesday is very late.

Above all, the Federal Minister of Economics has precious little to offer company representatives.

The CDU man cannot even decide on the desired new state aid.

And that he is not campaigning for a clear opening perspective, but on the contrary represents the restrictive line of the Chancellor, Altmaier emphatically demonstrated in the run-up to the last Bund-Länder round.

Thus, in the end, the economic summit will probably serve less of the industries affected.

Rather, it seems to be intended as a PR event for Altmaier.

Especially since the CDU politician really needs to polish up his image.

After all, he is responsible for the fact that many SMEs in acute danger are still waiting for so-called November and December aid.

Only now can you apply for it, and the urgently needed money will hardly come in before the end of March.

The fact that short-term border closings are now causing new problems in the EU internal market is also driving the economy.

But nothing is to be expected from Altmaier here either, his voice simply cannot be heard.

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Even if it is only a matter of preventing new burdens on the economy in these times, the minister cannot be relied on, as the Supply Chain Act shows, which makes international business considerably more difficult for the local company.

And Altmaier's energy policy was a permanent nuisance for the economy even before Corona.

Because having the highest electricity costs in the world is a locational disadvantage that is driving more and more companies abroad.

But the CDU politician and Merkel confidante lets all criticism roll off and trusts in praying for good.

Altmaier's poor performance, of all things, in the office in which Ludwig Erhard once became a legend with ideas, courage and drive, stands for the loss of importance of economic policy under Angela Merkel.

Holding on to him if you could have scored points with Friedrich Merz in the super election year instead is a risk - for the CDU and for Germany.