The starting shot of the super election year is imminent.
Now, of all times, the mask freaks from the Union are making a name for themselves.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt calls for more transparency with additional income.
Munich - And suddenly on the defensive: The "Raffke" affair about the ludicrously high masks additional earnings of MPs Nüßlein and Löbel disheveled the Union.
Are there any more spectacular cases?
Alexander Dobrindt promises stricter rules and more transparency;
so far the Union has opposed such ideas.
In the interview, the 50-year-old from Peißenberg gives details of the plans.
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Currently has a lot to work up: CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt is looking for more mask-Raffkes in the Union.
© Christoph Soeder / dpa
How deep is the swamp in which you stand with the parliamentary group?
Dobrindt:
Excuse me, but it's not about swamp!
There is misconduct by colleagues that cannot be excused and that is severely sanctioned.
It is correct, however, that we have to regain trust with more transparency and new rules.
Are you angry with nuts and lobes *?
Dobrindt:
Anger hits.
Disappointment and anger!
This behavior is indecent and affects all politics - unfortunately also the vast majority of colleagues who behaved properly.
How individual are the individual cases?
Have other MPs come forward with a confession?
Dobrindt:
No!
I am not aware of any other cases.
But we have asked all colleagues to submit a statement by 6 p.m. on Friday that they have not received any financial benefits from buying or selling medical supplies or from arranging contacts or forwarding offers.
Why does this always appear in the Union?
Dobrindt:
That is not systematic misconduct, as some like to claim.
It is individuals who have lost their moral standards.
We will respond to this with a clear stance.
I want clarification and transparency with new provisions in the Members' Act and, in addition, a code of conduct for the parliamentary group and particularly strict requirements for everyone who has managerial tasks in the parliamentary group.
Specifically: not a cent extra for parliamentary group leaders?
Dobrindt:
Anyone who holds outstanding positions in the parliamentary group should not have any additional income in the future.
We also want to make the rules more restrictive for all Members.
I want it to be absolutely clear who receives how much money, for example from company investments.
I want all payments to be skimmed off in the event of prohibited income.
And I want more transparency about the income earned from permitted secondary jobs.
We need publication in more and more precise stages.
My suggestion: Anything that goes beyond the amount of diets ...
... around 10,000 euros a month ...
Dobrindt:
... should be disclosed in euros and cents.
Why not a ban on part-time jobs for everyone?
The MP is certainly not gnawing at the hunger cloth.
Dobrindt:
We also have an interest in having as many professional groups as possible in Parliament, including the self-employed, craftsmen, farmers and entrepreneurs.
A complete ban would mean that a farmer could no longer run the farm he had kept in the family for decades, or a craftsman could no longer run his business.
That cannot be the approach.
One thing is clear, however: It is forbidden to turn the mandate into a business model.
How transparent are you?
How much do you earn a month?
Dobrindt:
I have no additional income outside of my parliamentary work.
How do you intend to control the code of conduct in the group?
Dobrindt:
I want to install a compliance team in the parliamentary group that is also staffed with external expertise.
It should not only react, but actively consider whether possible sideline activities are compatible with the respective tasks in Parliament.
We are consciously going a completely new way, far beyond the legal regulations.
I expect other groups and other parliaments to look into it.
Parliamentarianism should be more transparent everywhere!
There are two state elections on Sunday.
The situation for the Union is fatal.
Have you ever congratulated Ms. Dreyer and Mr. Kretschmann on their re-election?
Dobrindt:
Certainly not.
The achievements of the Prime Ministers in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg are not so outstanding that re-election would be deserved.
But of course these are extremely difficult elections for the Union, it is no secret.
Is the new CDU leader Laschet * completely innocent?
Dobrindt:
The overall situation is objectively difficult: We can feel that the population has become tired from the pandemic situation;
In addition, we see how much the misconduct by Nüßlein and Löbel damages the reputation of politics.
So it is not surprising that the polls for the Union are currently on a downward trend.
Therefore, the task is to develop recipes for reversing the trend.
The corona mood is not getting any sunnier, the RKI sees the third wave coming with force.
Do we need new lockdowns?
Dobrindt:
No!
We are now looking at more factors beyond mere incidences *.
The effect of a third wave can meanwhile be different due to the measures from masks * to vaccinations.
The aim must be to continue to work on easing with caution.
With vaccination and testing, we can get more normal.
This is the way we have to go.
What rating would you give the federal government for vaccination?
Dobrindt:
My dissatisfaction in some areas is just as great as that of many others.
We need a lot more dynamism when vaccinating!
Incidentally, the European Commission is largely responsible for the slow start.
The strolling around with the orders cost us time.
Interview: Christian Deutschländer, Mike Schier and Georg Anastasiadis
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List of rubric lists: © Christoph Soeder / dpa