CDU state leaders in the east back Merz

A few days before the Bundestag elections, the East German CDU state associations have reaffirmed their support for the Union's candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz. Friedrich Merz knows East Germany, said party colleague and Saxony-Anhalt Economics Minister Sven Schulze at an election campaign event in Halle (Saale).

The Union Minister Presidents of the new federal states, the CDU parliamentary group leader in the Brandenburg state parliament, Jan Redmann, and Bundestag member Philipp Amthor for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern presented him with the paper "Gemeinsam anpacken. For a new start in the east". In it, the CDU calls for, among other things, a start-up grant for East Germany as a pilot project for the Federal Republic and measures to increase the proportion of East Germans in management positions.

Haseloff: Merz must save what Kohl got off the ground

Saxony-Anhalt Minister President Reiner Haseloff emphasized the importance of the chemical industry. This had been rebuilt after reunification and must be preserved. "What Helmut Kohl set in motion, Friedrich Merz must now try to save together with us," he emphasized. The Minister President also spoke out in favor of climate protection.

Kretschmer: Faster with steam locomotives than express trains?

Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony, criticized the neglected transport links to Poland and the Czech Republic. While investments have been made in high-speed train connections to Belgium, the Netherlands and France, there is a lack of infrastructure to the east. "If you really take Eastern Europe seriously, then you also have to deliver in these areas," said Kretschmer. It cannot be the case that steam locomotives used to open up the region faster than today's express trains.

Voigt: healthcare instead of cannabis focus

Thuringia's CDU leader Mario Voigt called for better medical care in rural areas. Instead of legalizing cannabis, the focus should be on doctors' surgeries and pharmacies. The CDU East paper proposes semi-stationary care centers and basic services to improve infrastructure and accessibility. The aim is to reduce waiting times and ensure efficient healthcare.