Gitta Connemann, chair of the CDU’s economic wing, has spoken out for the first time about the contentious proposal from its Mittelstands‑ und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT) titled “No Legal Right to Lifestyle‑Part‑time”. The draft was slated for a vote at the upcoming Christian Democratic party conference, but the party’s leadership had sharply criticized it.
“The headline of our proposal could have been better, because the wording has clearly made it harder to discuss the subject of part‑time in depth” Connemann told the “Tagesspiegel” on Tuesday. “I regret that”.
At the same time she addressed not only her own party but also the media and the public, urging them to keep the substance of the proposal front and centre amid the noise about phrasing: “I would like us to learn, beyond ritual outrage, how to seriously discuss reform proposals”. She stressed that the debate is not about her or the party, but about Germany’s capacity for reform.
Sources say the CDU proposal committee had recommended a revised version of the part‑time initiative to be presented to the party conference for approval.
