Für das nächste große Treffen der Jungen Union hat deren Vorsitzender Johannes Winkel sich schon einen Satz zurechtgelegt: „Wir begrüßen den Bundeskanzler der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, herzlich willkommen, lieber <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/cdu-and-new-beginnings-merz-is-tackling-it-isnt-it-politics/" title="CDU and new beginnings: Merz is tackling it – isn't it? – Politics”>Friedrich Merz.“ Dass Winkel hofft, das sagen zu können, lässt er die JU-Anhänger in Halle (Saale) am Freitagabend schon wissen. Aber erstmal müssen CDU und CSU im nächsten Jahr noch eine Bundestagswahl mit ihrem Spitzenkandidaten Merz gewinnen, der sich für Samstag auf dem Deutschlandtag angekündigt hat. Wenn es nach Winkel geht, soll von dem Treffen der Nachwuchsorganisation der beiden Schwesterparteien an diesem Wochenende das Signal ausgehen, dass nun der Wahlkampf beginnt.
Sachsen-Anhalts Ministerpräsident Reiner Haseloff (CDU) begrüßte die 700 Gäste und 300 Delegierten am Freitagabend in seinem Bundesland und ermunterte sie, der CDU ins Stammbuch zu schreiben, was sie für die junge Generation ins Wahlprogramm aufnehmen soll. Darum ließ sich Winkel nicht zweimal bitten. Er machte in seiner Rede klar, dass es an diesem Wochenende vor allem um eine starke Wirtschaft gehen soll und nicht zuletzt um die Rente. „Wenn wir immer länger leben, dann müssen wir auch einen Teil davon länger arbeiten“, sagte Winkel. Ganz so, wie es im neuen Grundsatzprogramm der CDU steht, das im Mai verabschiedet wurde. Der Ampel warf er vor, den Generationenvertrag mit dem Rentenpaket II aufzukündigen.
Winkel präsentierte sich in seiner Rede mit markigen Sprüchen und nannte seinen Kurs knallhart. „In harten Zeiten brauchen wir auch harte Politik.“ Das kam offenbar gut an. Die Delegierten bestätigten den Mann aus Nordrhein-Westfalen mit 90,5 Prozent der Stimmen als Bundesvorsitzenden.
Increase in Islamism due to migration policy
Winkel called for solidarity with Israel and recalled that the JU is firmly against anti-Semitism. He spoke out against the traffic lights and stated that the fight against right-wing extremists was already being carried out from the middle of society, but there was no awareness of the fight against Islamism. “When Stone Age Islamists declare war on us, they must be aware that they find a bitter enemy in the middle of society.”
Of course, the increase in Islamism also has something to do with migration policy. A state cannot permanently open its borders without any control, he said, earning applause. There are Greens who say there are no “pull factors”. From their point of view, the social benefits in Germany have nothing to do with the fact that people make their way to Germany. This is not a denial of reality, but a contempt for reality. He spoke of the attacks in Mannheim and Solingen and criticized a “collective denial of responsibility” for the traffic lights.
He differentiated himself sharply from the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). Of course, you can have discussions with a party with completely new staff, said Winkel. But when “an order came from Sahra Wagenknecht’s Politburo” at the latest, she showed her true face. He was probably referring to the fact that Wagenknecht had called on the Thuringian CDU to distance itself from Merz. “Socialism without gender remains blood-red socialism,” said Winkel. “We are against the stationing of Putin propaganda in German state governments.” Winkel also told journalists that if a state association manages to discuss state issues sensibly, cooperation can be agreed at the end of the day.
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann also criticized Wagenknecht in his speech late on Friday evening. She preaches communism and lives capitalistically. “This woman” has little or nothing to do with the CDU. The CDU stands for ties to the West. Linnemann described the stationing of US medium-range missiles in Germany and support for Ukraine as “non-negotiable”. Linnemann made it clear: “We will not sell our souls.”
With a view to the federal election, Linnemann advocated that the CDU must become so strong “that we can make civil politics for this country again.” The traffic lights have to go. “And when the traffic lights are gone, right before left applies again.”
He gave the younger generation five points and repeated his credo: The CDU must say much more about what it wants to do better. Firstly, Germany needs a change in mentality towards more personal responsibility. Secondly, the CDU must concentrate on the core issues: internal security, economic policy and social cohesion. “Third point: just do it.” He has a ten-point immediate program after the election in mind. He also spoke out in favor of concrete steps to reduce bureaucracy in the election program and, as a final point, mentioned the issue of leadership, which does not exist with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). He is firmly convinced that Friedrich Merz is the right man at the right time. Now more than ever the Junge Union is important.
