Hessian premier Boris Rhein (CDU) has rejected the latest demands of the Mittelstands‑ und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT) and the CDU’s business council. In a statement quoted by the “Bild” (Tuesday issue), Rhein said, “I firmly reject performance cuts for those who deliver”. Instead, he urged greater respect for achievement and warned of a new kind of social coldness.
Rhein added that the proposals from MIT and the business council-particularly proposals to restrict part‑time work and to limit health benefits such as dental treatment-do not fit his vision of social justice. He underscored that the CDU has historically advocated for the recognition of merit. According to him, the focus should be on creating more incentives for those who want to contribute, while imposing stricter sanctions on those who refuse to participate.
Earlier, the CDU business council had called for dental services to be removed from the risk‑pool financing of statutory health insurance. Under that proposal, legally insured individuals would either pay for dental care out of pocket or purchase private supplemental insurance. In a related development last week, MIT’s business wing suggested tightening regulations on part‑time employment.
