The Minister President of Schleswig‑Holstein, Daniel Günther (CDU), has openly expressed a willingness to discuss limiting the right to part‑time work. “The situation is too serious to impose bans on thinking” he told the “Handelsblatt” in its Tuesday edition, adding that people are ready for change if the overall concept is sound and urging much greater boldness.
At the same time, Günther said the CDU’s economic wing’s demand for part‑time work is “a debate about symptoms, not roots”.
He praised Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) for the proposal to restore the withdrawal of telephone sickness certificates, calling it “right” and urging people to ask what their prosperity is worth and whether they are willing to do more for it again.
Günther cautioned the Union against entering a competitive race for the harshest austerity measures. “We do not need a competition for who demands the most painful cuts; we need structural reforms as soon as possible” he said.
