Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has advertised factual disputes in the federal election campaign. "As far as I am concerned, the election campaign will be fair," said the CDU chairman on Sunday in the ARD summer interview. He does not think that the political opponent should be attacked personally. Instead, the parties should "fight hard on the matter." He hoped that the election campaign would soon be about issues. There are such big changes to come, Germany is facing a "change of epoch". Therefore, the adversaries should come back to the substantive debate.
Laschet defended the Union's opposition to tax increases.
During the Corona crisis, a lot of money was used to get liquidity in the companies so that they could invest again now if possible.
"Increasing taxes now would be poison for the economy," said the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister in a summer interview with ARD.
In order to get out of the crisis successfully and quickly after the pandemic, Germany needs more economic growth and more people in employment.
So the state will take in more money again.
The CDU politician turned against the proposal to abolish the debt brake.
"That would be at the expense of future generations."
Faster decisions for better climate protection
In the current debate about the protection of children and young people in the corona pandemic, Laschet spoke out in favor of everything having to be done for face-to-face teaching in schools. This includes testing and, at the beginning, after the holidays, the mask requirement. He rejected requests for a school summit: there are always school summits, these are the meetings of the Conference of Ministers of Education. “That's enough,” said Laschet.
Regarding climate policy, Laschet said it was better to leave the CO2 price to the market because emissions trading works well. However, one cannot regulate everything through the price. "It will also need regulatory law," said Laschet, referring to the coal phase-out. Otherwise, every consumer should feel that it would be cheaper for him if he switched from a car with a combustion engine to an electric car.
But it is also crucial for progress in climate protection that decisions are implemented more quickly. “We have to get faster in approval and planning procedures in Germany.” This applies, for example, to railway lines, but also to cycle paths. Laschet also called for more commitment to climate protection at the international level. "We urgently need major international efforts." There is too little dynamism.
The Prime Minister confirmed that he would move from Düsseldorf to Berlin in the fall, regardless of the outcome of the federal election. He considers himself suitable for the office of Chancellor "because I have experience from a large industrial country". He wants to do everything to ensure that Germany remains an industrial country, but combine that with climate protection. “That is now the task of time.” During Angela Merkel's tenure in office, citizens would have experienced four major crises, namely the financial, euro debt and refugee crisis and now the corona pandemic. They decided to “trust the CDU during the crisis”.
When asked whether he was repeatedly underestimated, Laschet replied: “Many have miscalculated in recent years.” Regarding the tough argument with CSU chairman Markus Söder about the Union's candidacy for chancellor, he said: “It was a demanding ten days . ”Another form of argument“ would have been nicer, ”he said. But if you have an idea, then you have to "endure" such an argument.