The chairman of the Kaarst MIT, Markus Steins, opened the event at Café Schnittchen with a reference to the current situation: "The political situation is like the foggy weather today." Ansgar Heveling had been invited to explain the CDU's positions on economic policy. "The economy is the central topic of this election campaign," emphasised the MP from Korschenbroich. He made the CDU's target group clear: the centre of society - people who work, take responsibility and provide for their families.
Focus on economic challenges
Heveling addressed the current economic developments. He pointed out the decline in industrial jobs - with 7,000 jobs lost every week across Germany - and rising insolvency figures. For him, it was clear that too much state regulation was often counterproductive. The CDU had taken this into account in Agenda 2030, a recently adopted strategy paper.
Global changes such as the war in Ukraine and its consequences for the export of German products were also addressed. Heveling emphasised the need to increase productivity and spoke out against deindustrialisation. "The labour market is still stable, but this stability should not be taken for granted."
Discussion about the welfare state and the debt brake
On the subject of the welfare state, Heveling explained that help must continue to be guaranteed for those who need it. At the same time, he called for incentives to be created for people who are able to work so that they can return to the labour market.
Heveling described the debt brake, another point of discussion, as "fundamentally correct". It was a necessary instrument to prevent excessive government debt. This is in line with the position of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who had spoken out against a relaxation of the debt brake in the coalition government.
Effects of the new electoral law
The upcoming Bundestag elections on 23 February and the associated electoral law reform were also discussed. Heveling explained that the new regulations would make vote splitting - i.e. the separate election of direct and list votes - less important. "A direct candidate can only enter the Bundestag if their party receives enough second votes."
When asked by CDU mayoral candidate Christian Horn-Heinemann about the party's economic policy plans, Heveling replied: "We need an economic policy that reaches people directly." The CDU wants to give voters back their trust in a competent government that is capable of taking action.
The event provided a platform for dialogue between politics and business and underlined the central role of economic issues in the CDU's election campaign.