by Markus Langemann //
Rarely have political events in Germany been as exciting as in the first few days of the still young year 2024. We are in week eight, and the second new party in Germany was founded in week seven. After the BSWthe Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, from the left-wing spectrum, has now emerged with the ValuesUnion Just 5 weeks later, a party formed from the decoupling of the CDU and CSU.
The WU now stands as an independent political force in the German party spectrum. Under the leadership of Hans-Georg Maaßen, the former President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and now Chairman of WerteUnion, the party aims to help shape Germany's political landscape.
In a decisive step, the WerteUnion officially constituted itself as a party at a meeting in Remagen last Saturday, signaling its intention to run in future elections, particularly with a view to the German Bundestag in 2025.
The positions and goals of the WerteUnion reflect a clear departure from the current policies of the CDU under Angela Merkel and her successors.
The party strives to take a political direction based on the principles of Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl, with a strong focus on the Bonn Basic Law. Its programmatic profile includes a rejection of gender language and gender quotas, a critical stance towards public broadcasting and a call for a reduction in state intervention and taxes. It also advocates the protection of the federal territory against illegal immigration and supports a restrictive asylum policy.
Almost all of these core positions can already be found in a Interview portrait from 2020 againwhich Markus Langemann, editor of the Club der klaren Worte, conducted with Hans-Georg Maaßen.
Sehen Sie das Interview heute, verdeutlicht es das konsequente Handeln Maaßens und seine Rolle als kritische Stimme innerhalb des politischen Diskurses in Deutschland. Der Film-Titel „Der Stachel“, ist rückblickend programmatisch für das Handeln von Maaßen im konservativen Lager. Sie finden das politische Portrait, nunmehr ein zeitgeschichtliches Zeugnis, Exklusiv in der Media library of the CdkW.
The founding of Werteunion and its positioning in the political spectrum between the CDU, AfD and FDP rejects a one-sided orientation and is open to talks with other political forces, including the AfD, as long as these do not lead to a right-wing prime minister.
With its entry into the German political race, the WerteUnion could become a decisive factor in the future political landscape if it succeeds in weakening the CDU/CSU. In any case, Maaßen wants to make it into the state parliaments in the state elections in the fall.
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12 Responses
As far as WU is concerned, the saying "Operation successful. Patient dead" probably applies best. Good idea, but implementation "set 6". I think it also has to do with the person "Maaßen" himself. A man who also - or especially - had a very good reputation abroad at the time of his "protection of the constitution". He was a top specialist, knew what he was talking about and was in control of his department. He fell victim to an even bigger fish at the time: Angela Merkel. The CDU's Trojan horse, who got some people out of the way and a CDU in a state of shock, who only dared to "blaspheme" in the back room and yet didn't know how to get out of this number. Maaßen may have become the face of the Union of Values, but at heart he is a civil servant. The fact that he now found himself in the role of the "dirty child" was not only painful, it was catastrophic for a person like Maaßen. Then the CDU wanted to get rid of him. It didn't work. Then he wanted to get rid of the CDU. That worked. Putting him together with a Dr. Krall as a high-ranking former civil servant couldn't work. Maaßen may know how politics works, but Krall is a (libertarian) entrepreneur through and through. Politics should be anathema to him. Administration is the plague. He wants to "do something" and do it quickly. Understandably, people like that don't last long in politics. Which I can understand...
And now came Maassen's first mistake. He was clearly flirting with a CDU that wanted to get rid of him and he still doesn't understand this. New realities and changes are not a senior civil servant's strong point. Missionary zeal in the direction of a CDU is completely useless. He leans towards a party because he cannot do otherwise and because what cannot be must not be. He doesn't want to be in the dirty corner. This is a hard lot. Out of the beloved establishment, into the role of the defamed black sheep. A Krall can deal with that. A Maaßen cannot. His attempted demarcation from "right-wing "possible prime ministers" seems desperate. Even now, the WU appears to have no contours and is somehow arbitrary. It is supposed to elicit votes from the CDU, just as the BSW does from the left. It works with the latter, but it won't work with him. At least not in relevant numbers.
The BSW is different. "Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance". The name says it all. Where I am is at the front. The left have annoyed me long enough. Now I'll show you. She has succeeded - for once. She has overtaken the left. Goal achieved. For the time being. Collecting socialists with new "perspectives" is one thing. But there is a problem. Sarah Wagenknecht as a person is one thing. Eloquent, expressive, presentable. People may rub against her, but she is capable of "enriching" any talk show. People listen to her and she knows it. But a "Sarah Wagenknecht" party is something different and will also be judged differently by voters. Content somewhere between socialism, combined with nebulous cuddling up to the middle class. A little AfD here, a little socialism there. Just as it suits. She probably calls it realpolitik. It won't be long before the first one knows how to scratch the façade and then it's all over.
I don't see any prospects for either party. It's not easy to get over the 5 % hurdle. That's why it's called a "hurdle". There is also a lack of campaign workers. At the WU as well as the BSW.
And then there's the blue elephant in the room. Dealing with it differently would have made more tactical sense. But they didn't dare. But perhaps the voters' expectations are (were) different.
Nun ja, ich glaube nicht, dass mit WU und Wagenknecht neuen Wind in die „Alt-Parteien-Politik“ der Einheitspartei kommt. Das Problem ist hierbei ja nicht mal, dass es neue Alternativen gibt, sondern dass sich die neue Opposition gegenseitig selbst schadet und somit der Einheitspartei hilft.
If the new opposition parties would at least work together on the most important issues for the good of Germany, it would still be a good thing. But they are shooting at each other (i.e. WU/Wagenknecht at AfD) and thus making themselves the beacons of the old parties.
Since the "values" union does not oppose climate dictatorship and the EU, it is just old wine in new bottles.
And so far I've read a lot here about Mr. Maßen and WU, but little or nothing at all about BSW.
Is there a trend to the right of center here?
This appearance by the founding board of the Values Union already showed that the majority of the usual party people set the tone there.
Mr. Maaßen's views are to be honoured, but there is no spirit of optimism, no inspiration and basically no real will to reform. Simply restoring the rule of law and thus solving the migration crisis, for example, falls far short of the mark. Prof. Otte and Mr. Krall have already thrown in the towel, presumably because they don't want to go along with the wrangling over cooperation with the AfD. But perhaps they also see that their economic and financial policy course will have no chance in this personnel constellation. Things are going well for the AfD, I'm afraid, even very well. In fact, I sometimes think that all the old parties are also consistently working on the AfD's triumph. Why don't Scholz and his cohorts just do their job and start solving problems instead of constantly creating new ones? It would be so easy to at least take the first steps.
Dear Dr. Wessel,
If you ignore the political viewpoints for a second, Markus Krall and Dr. Maassen are, in my opinion, completely different in terms of type - for better or for worse.
Wenn ich Markus Krall auf einer Bühne reden höre, holt er die Menschen stets emotional ab. Er ist ein begnadeter Entertainer. Hier ein bissiger Spruch gegen Baerbock, da ein schlagfertiges Wortspiel gegen Scholz, dort eine gepfefferte Breitseite gegen Habeck. Das wirkt für viele Menschen erfrischend und inspirierend. Andererseits prescht Krall gerne unüberlegt vor. Er war der Erste, der die Parteigründung öffentlich ankündigte. Nicht abgestimmt mit Maaßen, der deswegen „not amused“ war. Krall kündigte auch als Erster Tage vorher auf X die MDR-Doku an (das habe ihm Bhakdi anvertraut) und gefährdete damit die Ausstrahlung der Sendung. Für viele ist Krall deswegen ein zu sehr aus dem Bauch schießender Ego-Shooter.
Bei Dr. Maaßen ist es umgedreht. Jedes Wort wirkt mit Bedacht gewählt. Er lässt sich meist Zeit, wenn er antwortet. Angesichts der vielen hysterischen wie infantilen Tik-Tok-Politiker wirkt das auf viele Menschen seriös. Maaßen verkörpert einen Politiker-Typus, der ansonsten ausgestorben scheint. Die Kehrseite der Medaille ist, dass er im Gegensatz zu Krall etwas „dröge“ rüberkommt.
In other words, the truth is always in the eye and the expectations of the beholder.
Either way, a marital quarrel during the honeymoon is never good. The fact that Maaßen, Otte and Krall are now tearing each other apart is damaging to themselves and the newly founded WerteUnion.
„Warum tun Scholz & Konsorten nicht einfach ihre Arbeit und fangen an Probleme zu lösen, statt immer neue zu schaffen? Es wäre doch so einfach, wenigstens die ersten Schritte zu tun.“
Your word in God's ear.
Dear Mr. Löcke, I wish Maaßen and his team every success, but with a lukewarm firewall I don't see it happening. Nothing annoys all the non-voters more than tactical maneuvering and insincerity. This target group will not build up trust in this way. Krall is, as they say here, a "wild" guy, but he always has been, it would have been better if they had wanted to include him. The loss of Otte, the former chairman of the Values Union, is greater, at least in my eyes. I suspect that this must have been about core issues of Krall and Otte, which are seen quite differently by senior officials, politicians and lawyers, unfortunately. If Germany does not manage to reorganize the economic and financial sector, the balance of power in our society will move further and further away from a functioning democracy. The same applies to schools, universities and, of course, the media.
Please, how are voters supposed to "choose wisely and strategically"? Voters are already voting the right way: they are giving the traffic light party 40% support in the polls. They are strengthening the only opposition, the AfD, despite constant bombardment from the left-wing cartel and the affiliated parties CDU & FDP. They destroy the mendacious LINKE and bring the FDP below five percent. They are giving the nappy-headed Sozis the finger. Okay, some are still clinging to the Merz CDU as their last anchor. You can't get any more politically astute than that. What is difficult for voters to recognize is the perfidious role of the CDU, which has submitted to the left-wing cartel in the hope of gaining power. But now there is the Union of Values as an alternative. Nevertheless, the race for the next government is already over, because almost no matter what the voters decide, if the cartel parties achieve a relative majority, they will implement it. So CDUSPGreensFDP. And things will continue as before. Why is that? Firstly, the SPD's betrayal of its principles and its voters, for which it has already received a lesson. Secondly, the maximum deception by the Merkel-Merz CDU: together with the FDP, the Greens and the turned Social Democrats, it is implementing a tough neoliberal agenda (of course in the typically German, i.e. stupidest, way). And unfortunately the voters don't see through this, although Merz & Blackrock should signal this to them.
The Union of Values is perhaps the only hope for Germany.
I can only agree with the previous speaker regarding BSW. Someone who knows Sarah Wagenknecht well told me a long time ago that Sarah Wagenknecht's attitude is that of a Stalinist. Because she wants to control everything, she will not be successful with the BSW and this party will not be able to establish itself through internal disputes.
Well recognized, there is nothing to add!
A significant migration of voters away from the CDU/CSU is essential for a fundamental change in politics, both internally and externally, and I therefore wish the Werte Union every success.
I can't trust the BSW one millimeter. (1. the former staff of "the left" 2. firewall)
This also has nothing to do with "democracy. (Emphasis on: also)
The current state of the FRG (education, health, care, pensions, migration, etc.) was caused by the Merkel CDU/CSU.
The current traffic light coalition, including the FDP, is merely the executor. The shortage of skilled workers in this coalition is rather helpful. Hence the lack of planning, which is currently turning into helpless "flailing about". This is clearly due to the polls and the current lack of "special funds".
If the majority of voters do not understand this and finally start to vote wisely and strategically, this country will be completely lost and degenerate into a cesspool.
Personally, from my own experience, I can't get anything out of the propagated shortage of skilled workers. Just one example: My son-in-law is Algerian and completed his studies in Toulouse (France) with a 1.2 as a master's degree in microbiology, specializing in vaccine development. In Germany, he can barely get a job as an MTA, i.e. in a skilled occupation without a lengthy degree, on the grounds that his degree would not be recognized in Germany and that he would need a doctorate with his training in order to get a corresponding job. So much for the Bologna Agreement. I really don't want to be lulled by this nonsense anymore. As an entrepreneur, I've never had a problem with workers, because I'm also prepared to give people a chance who simply want to work. The majority of employers are definitely too demanding, unwilling to move and offer opportunities to people who may not be able to meet their exaggerated requirements. This is another reason why this madness is being fueled. Surely no thinking citizen seriously believes that we are bringing skilled workers into the country who will be recognized as such and work here accordingly? My son-in-law is just one example I have described here. Sadly, I have more of them up my sleeve. As the maid of honor for one of my co-workers (Turkish), I had plenty of experience of the jobs in which highly educated immigrants are employed here. I could laugh all day if it didn't make me cry.
Thank you for this contribution. We simply have too many blockheads who have too much to say, a real blockhead pandemic, there are not that many blockheads in the whole world to cope with this wave.