German CDU party secretary‑general Carsten Linnemann openly rejects the call from the party’s economic council to stop covering dentist visits with statutory health insurance. He told the newspaper “Stern” that such a move would be counterproductive. “We need a future agenda for Germany” he said, adding that “isolated proposals like the recent debate over dental costs are not helpful”. He argues that it is contrary to the principle of solidarity to abandon support for prevention and early detection.
Linnemann highlighted that the federal government has already undertaken “important first reform steps” such as the introduction of basic security and the implementation of the active pension program. “Further measures must follow, for example in pensions or health” he added, noting that commissions will develop proposals over the coming weeks and months that should be taken into account.
He cautioned against alienating citizens. “Most people in our country see that reforms are necessary, and there has never been such a strong willingness to adopt them” he said. “However, success will only come with a comprehensive concept that considers all people-including us politicians-and does not single out particular groups”.
On Sunday, the CDU’s business‑friendly economic council issued a paper titled “Agenda for Workers in Germany”. The document calls, among other things, for stopping insurance coverage of dentist visits, limiting unemployment benefit to a maximum of one year, and abolishing the maternity pension as well as the pension available at age 63.
