VZCZCXYZ0022
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #0793/01 1821238
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011238Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4497
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000793 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL GM
SUBJECT: CDU AND CSU RALLY AROUND MERKEL, ELECTION PLATFORM 
AT PARTY CONGRESS 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Jeffrey Rathke for reasons 
1.4 (b,d). 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1.  (C) The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian 
sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) rallied behind 
Chancellor Merkel (CDU) as their lead candidate and showed 
strong unity in their joint "election platform" at their June 
29 congress in Berlin.  In her speech, Chancellor Merkel 
avoided partisan sniping to frame some of the major social 
and economic challenges facing the country and to provide 
solutions.  These included greater regulation of the 
financial market, investment in education and technology for 
economic growth, and addressing the demographic problem of an 
aging population.  She appealed to all Germans to join in 
efforts to meet the challenges ahead.  (Note: The CDU is 
scheduled to hold another major event on September 6 in 
Duesseldorf to launch the final hot phase of the campaign.) 
 
¶2.  (C) Although absent from the party congress discussion 
and Merkel's speech, the CDU/CSU election platform includes a 
separate chapter on foreign policy calling for a strong 
transatlantic partnership, commitment to NATO and to the 
development of the Alliance's new strategic concept, 
Germany's responsibility for Israel's security and existence 
as a Jewish State as well as for a two-state solution, good 
relations with Russia, and Germany's continued contribution 
to Afghanistan's stability and security.  While Merkel took 
the high road, key CDU and CSU political figures attacked the 
rival Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is currently more 
than 10 points behind the CDU/CSU in the polls.  They cast 
the SPD as an irresponsible spender, incapable of navigating 
the country through its current economic woes.  They again 
pointed to the Free Democratic Party (FDP) as the CDU/CSU's 
preferred coalition partner.  End Summary. 
 
CDU and CSU Embrace, After Months of Tension 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) After months of inter-party wrangling between the 
CDU and CSU over the timing and nature of tax cuts, as well 
as tensions within the CDU over tax increases, the CDU and 
CSU came together (for the time being, at least) in a strong 
show of unity at their June 29 party congress.  CSU Chairman 
Horst Seehofer, who in the recent past had not shied away 
from confronting the CDU over economic issues, heaped praise 
on the Chancellor, beginning his speech with, "We do not need 
a candidate, we have a Chancellor," and later, "She's our 
Chancellor and she'll remain our Chancellor."  Merkel also 
lauded key CDU and CSU politicians for coming to agreement on 
a joint election platform.  Her speech quickly lifted her 
audience above the political fray as she highlighted 
Germany's successes, and its future challenges.  She invited 
all Germans to contribute to efforts to meet the challenges 
ahead. 
 
¶4.  (C) Much of Merkel's speech was a rallying cry to 
overcome the economic crisis.  She dismissed tax increases as 
a solution, including proposals by some in her own party for 
increases in the value-added tax and taxes on higher earners. 
 She stressed the need for greater regulation to guard 
against a repetition of the "excesses" of the financial 
market, and extolled the stability and security of the social 
market economy.  Of note was her focus on Germany's 
demographic challenge of dealing with both an aging 
population and a shrinking younger population.  Merkel's main 
mantra was economic growth as a remedy for the crisis.  To 
achieve growth, she called for an increase in investments in 
education, including of children with immigrant backgrounds, 
with an investment of 10% of the gross domestic product by 
¶2015.  She also called for more investment in research and in 
technology.  Also part of the platform are modest tax cuts 
amounting to around 15 billion euros over four years. 
Referring to her recent visit to Washington, Merkel quipped 
that the United States had discovered the importance of 
climate change and she called on Germany to act quickly to 
develop new technology to avoid being outpaced, noting the 
quicker pace of change in the United States. 
 
Strong Foreign Policy Platform 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The 63-page platform is divided into four sections 
focusing in the first three on strengthening the social 
market economy, promoting education and bolstering the 
family, maintaining quality of life, and ensuring freedom and 
security.  Foreign policy issues are covered in the final 
section of about 10 pages.  The introduction to the foreign 
policy provisions states that "the fundamental values of the 
Basic Law, the security of its citizens, and the interests 
and global responsibility of Germany and Europe must be the 
yardstick for Germany's foreign and security policy." 
The election platform's foreign policy provisions call for: 
 
-- Strengthening the transatlantic partnership together with 
the new U.S. president, including the trade partnership; 
 
-- Maintaining Germany's commitment to NATO and to the 
development of the Alliance's new strategic concept that will 
respond appropriately to changes in security policy; NATO 
remaining open to new members who share the Alliance's values 
and whose membership brings more security for all member 
states; 
 
-- Germany remaining a strong voice for human rights; 
 
-- Maintaining Germany's special responsibility towards 
Israel as a Jewish state and for Israel's security; 
endorsement of a two-state solution for Israel and the 
Palestinians; 
 
-- Good relations with Russia -- as close relations as 
possible, depending on Russia's readiness to meet its 
obligations in the UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe, the 
European Energy Charter and the EU; 
 
-- Working with the emerging nations of China, Brazil, India, 
Mexico, and South Africa to solve many of the global problems; 
 
-- Internal reform of the UN and a permanent seat for the EU 
on the UNSC; in the interim, Germany would be prepared to 
assume more responsibility by taking a seat; 
 
-- Combating piracy within the framework of the UN; creation 
of an international court on piracy; 
 
-- Averting the spread of instability and terror from 
Afghanistan; helping Afghanistan provide for its own 
security, including by training and civilian reconstruction; 
recognizing that "the military security presence and civil 
reconstruction are inseparably linked"; 
 
-- The continuing necessity of conscription; taking decisions 
on deployments abroad in coordination with the Bundestag 
based on the values and interests of Germany and in light of 
international alliance obligations; 
 
-- Supporting a strong European Union, including a strong EU 
foreign and security policy; development of a common security 
strategy; 
 
-- Not affording Turkey as yet full EU membership; supporting 
a privileged partnership instead of full membership for 
Turkey; 
 
-- Supporting a long-term EU energy policy. 
 
SPD Takes Brunt of Digs 
----------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Although Merkel refrained from partisan attacks, 
her party colleagues did not, with most taking swipes at the 
SPD.  In his opening remarks, CDU General Secretary Ronald 
Pofalla raised the specter of a possible coalition between 
the SPD, The Left Party, and the Greens (red-red-green) -- 
although the SPD has rejected cooperating with The Left -- 
stressing that there is no place in Germany for such a 
government.  Seehofer also sought to remind Germany that the 
SPD (specifically, the SPD in the State of Hesse) had gone 
back on its word and tried to cooperate with The Left at the 
state level.  Some of the key CDU and CSU leaders cast the 
SPD as irresponsible and incapable of leading the country out 
of the economic crisis.  They depicted the CDU/CSU as 
representing the interests of the middle class and the SPD as 
a big spender, which will raise the tax burden on the middle 
class. 
 
Comment 
------ 
 
¶7.  (C) The CDU/CSU congress framed the economic crisis as 
the main campaign theme for the September election.  CDU 
contacts told us that they do not expect foreign policy 
issues to be a focus.  The CDU will defend Germany's global 
responsibility if questioned by The Left, but the CDU does 
not otherwise plan to highlight foreign policy.  Continuing 
to demonstrate leadership and capability in the economic 
arena will be first and foremost on the Chancellor's mind as 
the elections approach. 
 
¶8.  (C) Merkel has achieved the CDU-CSU unity she needs going 
into the elections.  She must now seek to retain CDU/CSU's 
position as the strongest mainstream party.  Polling at about 
36%, the CDU/CSU leads the SPD by over 10 points.  According 
to these current polls, the CDU/CSU would be able to form a 
slim majority with its preferred coalition partner, the FDP. 
The main concern for the Chancellor now, however, is that the 
liberal FDP could continue to attract traditional CDU/CSU 
supporters who seek a more conservative economic policy. 
Merkel acknowledged this fear indirectly in her remarks when 
she stressed that the CDU/CSU has the power to strengthen the 
country and promote growth and they can do that best with the 
FDP.  She added, however, that "this is only possible with a 
strong CDU." 
Koenig