Swift Actions for Alleviation: A Blueprint by CDU's Thorsten Frei
Senior Aide to the Chancellor Lists Immediate Policy Actions - Immediate Implementation of Various Projects, States Chancellor
Ready, set, act! According to Thorsten Frei, Chief of Staff, the newly formed black-red coalition requires a swift and strategic approach to alleviate the burdens of citizens and businesses while invigorating the economy. "Now we scrutinize what can be achieved swiftly and before the summer hiatus," said Frei in a lively video interview with the German Press Agency. "We have a wealth of projects in our coalition agreement that cost no money and can be initiated right away."
To put the cogs in motion, Frei points to some promising ventures, such as:
- Flexi-Time Saints: Transition from a daily maximum work hour limit to a weekly one, enhancing the work-life balance while fostering productivity.
- Supply Chain Saga: Suspend or abolish the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, promoting flexibility and streamlining business operations.
- Power Pals: Collaborate with the SPD to ease electricity tax and network charges, slashing energy expenses for households and businesses.
- Investment Incentives: Kickstart an investment turbo with improved depreciation options, spurring corporate growth and paving the way for a far-reaching corporate tax reform.
- Growth Champions: Frei reiterates that enhancing economic conditions, decreasing taxes, and paring down red tape will signal strength to industries and the populace that the government is receptive to a prosperous future.
To execute these initiatives effectively, Frei highlights the need for a balanced approach, "Governing isn't a game of zero-sum, where one must win as the other loses. This strategy spawns failure. To share the cake equitably, it must benefit everyone, not by exploiting citizens or the societal fabric, but rather to enrich the nation," concludes Frei.
Frei remains ebullient about executing the coalition agreement, noting its role as a mere foundation. "We do not consider the coalition agreement as a sacred doctrine, but rather as the fundamental concentration point from which we can further innovate and develop," said Frei. In this quest, Frei sees himself as a brokering force that finds the sweet spot between coalition partners, navigating the dynamics of the vast political landscape.
- Thorsten Frei
- SPD
- German Press Agency
- Coalition Agreement
- Federal government
- Economic Revival
- Flexible Working Hour Policies
- Supply Chain Act
- Energy Cost Reduction
- Investment Boost
- Growth Path
- Shared Prosperity
Insights:
- The revised basic income support system should remove harsh sanctions, ensuring it effectively supports those in need, according to recent developments in the social welfare sector 1. The raising of the minimum wage to €15 per hour is also under consideration to improve the living standards of lower-income workers.
- In an attempt to strengthen cultural relations and public understanding, restitution measures for cultural assets and human remains from former colonies are being addressed, as outlined in the coalition agreement 5.
- Tightening border controls and deporting obliged individuals in coordination with European partners is among the migration and asylum policies discussed in the agreement 4.
- To further accelerate the national economy, investment in research and development and offering tax breaks and incentives to businesses to encourage investment and expansion are essential 4.
- Thorsten Frei emphasizes the need for community aid, particularly in the form of flexible working hour policies, to improve work-life balance and enhance productivity.
- The aid for restructuring the steel industry is a priority for the coalition, with Thorsten Frei highlighting the necessity of investment incentives to spur corporate growth.
- In the coalition agreement, there is a policy proposal for the suspension or abolition of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which Frei believes will promote flexibility and streamline business operations.
- To foster economic revival, the coalition agreement also includes provisions for easing electricity tax and network charges, providing aid for restructuring the electricity industry and reducing energy costs for households and businesses.
