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Right-wing faction of Germany’s conservatives form splinter party

The right-wing faction of Germany's opposition conservatives said Saturday it was breaking off and forming its own party, with an aim of contesting regional elections in September.

Published: 20 January 2024 18:42 CET
This file photo shows Werteunion leader Hans-Georg Maassen speaking during a CDU election campaign event in Benshausen
This file photo shows Werteunion leader Hans-Georg Maassen speaking during a CDU election campaign event in Benshausen in 2021. The right-wing faction of Germany's Conservatives said it was breaking off to form its own party. (Photo by Jens SCHLUTER / AFP)

The Werteunion (Values Union) group said after a general assembly that it would leave former chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right CDU and Bavarian sister party CSU.

“With a big majority, the members of the Werteunion voted for the founding of an eponymous party,” said its leader Hans-Georg Maassen.

“The party could already run in the state elections in eastern Germany and would work with all parties … that are ready for a political change in Germany,” said Maassen, who notably did not rule out cooperation with the far-right AfD party.

The anti-immigration AfD party leads opinion polls in Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saxony, which are due to hold state elections in September.

However, mainstream political parties like the CDU or Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats have all ruled out governing in any coalition with the AfD.

Maassen’s Werteunion was founded in 2017 as a faction of CDU-CSU members who opposed Merkel’s policies, including her decision to let in hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Maassen was Germany’s former domestic intelligence chief but was forced to take early retirement in 2018 over controversial comments over immigration.

READ ALSO: Over 100,000 in German protests against far-right AfD

The new splinter party said it has about 4,000 members, most of them formerly from the CDU or CSU.

The founding of the party came at a time when the AfD was under intense scrutiny following revelations that some of its members had discussed mass deportation plans of immigrants and “non-assimilated citizens” with other extremists.

Two of the Werteunion’s members were also present at the controversial meeting last November.

The AfD confirmed the presence of its members at the meeting, but has denied taking on the “remigration” project championed by Austria’s Martin Sellner.

Sellner is the leader of Austria’s Identitarian Movement, which subscribes to the “great replacement” conspiracy theory that claims there is a plot by non-white migrants to replace Europe’s “

Revelations of the meeting had sent shockwaves across Germany, as contents of the talks drew comparisons with Nazi ideology.

Since then, anti-AfD protests have erupted across Germany. From Friday through Sunday, demonstrations are expected in more than 100 locations.

On Saturday, more than 100,000 people joined the mobilisation against the far-right party.

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POLITICS

Why a row has broken out in Germany over pension reforms

Government parties in Germany are in a bitter row over the future of pensions and retirement in Germany. Here's a quick overview of what you need to know.

Published: 13 May 2024 11:49 CEST
Why a row has broken out in Germany over pension reforms

Germany’s coalition government is having a rough time of it. 

Since the three parties – the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP) – entered a coalition after the federal election in 2021, they have seen a significant dip in popularity according to polls. 

Despite some high profile policy achievements, such as citizenship and immigration reforms as well as the partial legalisation of cannabis, the coalition’s reputation has been marred by infighting. 

And the latest sticking point is pension policy. 

READ ALSO: Is it worthwhile to set up a private pension plan in Germany?

What’s the issue with pensions?

Last week, a high profile and long-awaited approval by the cabinet on a package shaking up pensions in Germany – called Rentenpaket II – was postponed. 

According to reports, Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had the topic removed from the agenda – effectively blocking it from moving forward.

That is despite Lindner agreeing on the pension reform, along with Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), months ago.

The package, which Heil and Lindner presented in March, is intended to guarantee a pension level of 48 percent for the future — meaning that pensions would equate to 48 percent of your average salary over the course of your working time.

The government also plans to invest billions in the capital market and pay annual subsidies to the pension insurance from the interest earned starting in the mid-2030s. It means that in addition to the contributions and subsidies from the federal budget, the pension insurance scheme would receive a third source of funding.

READ ALSO: How Germany plans to stabilise pension contributions

But the final go ahead for the package has been stalled due to various disputes on social security and pensions — including over the budgeting for it. 

FDP calls for ‘fair’ budget policy 

The situation has got further complicated — and messy — after the FDP spoke out once again in favour of restricting early retirement at 63 in Germany, as part of a new policy paper urging a ‘budget turnaround’.

In the five-point paper on the welfare state, the Finance Minister’s party warns of the consequences of the current pension package, saying it will “overburden” budgets with too much spending on social welfare. 

The FDP's Christian Lindner has been rocking the coalition boat this week.

The FDP’s Christian Lindner. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jessica Lichetzki

The FDP says it wants a “budget policy that is fair to all generations”. They want to see reforms to the social system as well as restricting access to early pensions for those who qualify. 

The latest policy paper, which the FDP plans to adopt at an executive meeting on Monday, echoes what the party has said previously in a 12-point plan aiming to ‘turn the economy around’ where it outlined how long-term unemployment benefit sanctions should be tougher. 

READ ALSO: Why a push for tougher benefit sanctions in Germany is sparking a dispute

What’s the reaction?

The FDP’s plans have been met with criticism from its coalition partners, the SPD and the Greens.

SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert rejected the proposals, including to restrict retirement at 63. “We can’t do that,” Kühnert told German broadcasters on Monday. 

He firmly believes that the cabinet will approve the coalition’s ‘pension package II’ in May as well as the 2025 budget in July.

“But everyone should now focus on the matter and publish fewer point papers,” he added, in view of the FDP’s recent pushes to assert its policies. 

However, it is unclear whether the FDP will agree to the pension package in its current form given the recent uproar. The decision to release these policy papers may also be a tactic to try and pull in potential voters ahead of the nationwide election in Germany in autumn 2025. 

Other politicians have hit out at the FDP. 

SPD party leader Saskia Esken told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that it wasn’t helpful if negotiations on the 2025 budget were accompanied by party-affiliated position papers every week.

Esken also said social security in Germany is a “non-negotiable” for the party.

READ ALSO: How does Germany’s retirement age compare to the rest of Europe’s?

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