German opposition launches election campaign
{{date|July 11, 2005}}__NOTOC__

[[Image:CDU Zentrale Berlin.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Headquarters of the CDU.]]
Germany's main opposition parties, the [[w:CDU|CDU]] and its sister party, the Bavarian [[w:Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]], presented their manifesto for the upcoming [[w:German federal election, 2005|federal election]] in Berlin today. With this progam, titled ''Deutschlands Chancen nutzen'' (Using Germany's Opportunities), the CDU wants to return to power in the election, which will most likely take place on September 18th of this year.

The number one issue in this election will be employment. Germany is struggling with 4.7 million unemployed people and the CDU wants to reduce labor costs and make the hiring and firing of new employees easier. The party also intends to reduce income-taxes but plans to raise the value-added tax from 16% to 18%.

Party chair [[w:Angela Merkel|Angela Merkel]], the CDU's candidate for chancellor, called their program the "''most honest in a long time''" while incumbent chancellor [[w:Gerhard Schröder|Gerhard Schröder]] said that Merkel would make "''everything more expensive and nothing better''".

{{Germanelection2005}}
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,364773,00.html |title=Eine Frage der Ehrlichkeit |author=Carsten Volkery  |pub=Spiegel Online |date=July 11, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4673097.stm |title= German opposition promises jobs |author= |pub=BBC News |date=July 11, 2005}}

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[[Category:Germany]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Angela Merkel]]

[[de:Union stellt Wahlprogramm vor]]
__NOTOC__

Headquarters of the CDU.
Germany's main opposition parties, the CDU and its sister party, the Bavarian CSU, presented their manifesto for the upcoming federal election in Berlin today. With this progam, titled Deutschlands Chancen nutzen (Using Germany's Opportunities), the CDU wants to return to power in the election, which will most likely take place on September 18th of this year.

The number one issue in this election will be employment. Germany is struggling with 4.7 million unemployed people and the CDU wants to reduce labor costs and make the hiring and firing of new employees easier. The party also intends to reduce income-taxes but plans to raise the value-added tax from 16% to 18%.

Party chair Angela Merkel, the CDU's candidate for chancellor, called their program the "most honest in a long time" while incumbent chancellor Gerhard Schröder said that Merkel would make "everything more expensive and nothing better".


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Germany Politics and conflicts Angela Merkel