Major parties unveil their 2025 platforms – DW – 12/17/2024

Germany’s conservative coalition, made of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) unanimously voted in favor of the party’s program for the 2025 elections. 

The program includes a promise to lower taxes and de-facto stop illegal migration.

The party will also continue its support for Ukraine and will re-introduce compulsory military service, previously canceled in 2011, according to a report by German news agency DPA.

The party’s leader and Chancellor candidateFriedrich Merzsaid he believes the conservative Union “must become the guarantors of peace and freedom.”

As Germany heads for elections, authorities in Berlin fear that the February 23 vote will also be a target for pro-Russian propaganda. 

Media investigations have pointed to Kremlin-linked efforts to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and boost the Russia-friendly views of the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).

Germany’s interior ministry has set up a taskforce to take “the necessary protection measures” against any disinformation, sabotage, espionage and cyber attacks. 

“Whether we like it or not, we are in a direct confrontation with Moscow,” Germany’s foreign intelligence chief Bruno Kahl has warned.

Germany is officially going to elections, and debate preparations are now underway.

This comes after the current government, under the leadership of Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD lost a confidence vote on Monday, resulting in him asking President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to call early elections.

Scholz is expected to face his main opponent, conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz, in at least two televised debates prior to the elections, which are expected to take place on February 23. 

Public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are planning one debate on February 9, while private broadcaster RTL will hold another debate on February 16.

ftm/zc (dpa, Reuters, AFP)