The Union wants to move into the federal election campaign with the promise of relief for employees and companies, but is dampening expectations that are too high.

This emerges from the 138-page draft of the Union election program available to the Reuters news agency, which was presented to the CDU and CSU praesidia on Sunday evening.

With the necessary restart after the corona pandemic and on the way into a "decade of modernization", the following is emphasized: "We cannot do magic, but we can and we want to work and shape."

In view of the desired balance between financial solidity and election campaign promises, a number of financially-intensive projects by the Union's umbrella politicians have been slimmed down.

The philosophy is "Security in Change".

The CDU and CSU wanted a new dynamic in the climate, economy and family support, but did not storm “blindly into tomorrow, but keep moderation and moderation”.

Söder: "Full support for Laschet"

Union chancellor candidate Armin Laschet and CSU chairman Markus Söder had previously announced that a program for the federal election had largely been agreed. After the internal squabbles of the past months, Söder emphasized that his party fully supported both the program and CDU chairman Laschet as a joint candidate for chancellor. Unity is the key to success in the federal election. At the joint appearance on Sunday, Laschet himself spoke of a "very constructive, very friendly spirit" in the discussions about the program.

The Saxon Christian Democratic Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer emphasized the financial viability of the Union election program. The costs of the corona crisis and more climate protection should be managed with an economic upswing and technical progress, explained Kretschmer, who is also a member of the CDU presidium, on Germany radio on Monday. "Germany is a strong and also rich country, we don't have to talk about doing without right away."

Kretschmer went on to say: “The most important thing is to make a clear statement that there are no tax increases.” He explained: “After this Corona crisis, we need an upturn.

Firstly, because we do not want to leave the costs that we incurred to overcome this difficult crisis to future generations.

And secondly, because this country, if it wants to maintain prosperity in the future and survive in competition, really needs a different dynamic. "Climate protection, on the other hand, must be affordable for everyone, and the economy must not migrate abroad." That is only possible if you rely on innovation, on technical progress. "

CDU Vice Breher: Stand by the debt brake

The deputy CDU chairman Silvia Breher said in the ARD: “We stand by the debt brake in the Basic Law, and we will anchor that again accordingly. For us it is important that we actually go into the future with innovation, with economic growth, with our companies and, if possible, then generate growth again from this in order to be able to consolidate our budget. "For the Union there is the debt brake and also the statement, that she does not want any new tax burdens.