Mariana Harder-Kühnel, August 2, 2022, Kindergeld

AfD Kompakt, August 2, 2022.

The European High Court [EuGH]’s decision increases the pressure on our social state and on those who must by their work generate the billions in tax money which here will be distributed on a grand scale. The EuGH no longer evaluates Kindergeld [child allowance] as a social benefit, since according to the opinion of the judges it does not serve for the guaranteeing of the living subsistence but for the compensation of the family costs [Ausgleich von Familienlastung]. The Court thereby again increases the incentive for abuse by migrants from southeast Europe and additional poor regions of the EU.

For comparison: The Kindergeld claim for three children for three months runs to some 2,000 euros in Germany. With a monthly average wage in Bulgaria of 800 euros, the income of German Kindergeld is more than lucrative. It is nevertheless the German taxpayers who finance the social state and not it happens Bulgarians seeking work. The basic idea of the freedom of movement in the EU is based on the employment of workers in other EU member states. Clearly not meant by that is the claim to more attractive social benefits. The Ampel is now obliged to find a sound legal solution so as to prevent further social tourism to Germany.

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

 

 

Alice Weidel, August 2, 2022, Foreign Minister Baerbock

AfD Kompakt, August 2, 2022.

Baerbock’s elevation of self knows no limits. Instead of driving the escalation spiral ever further, as in the Ukraine war, it would be the duty of the Federal government to engage in a mediating role. Surely the foreign policy in regards the war between the Ukraine and Russia shows that every heightening of our presence has serious consequences, primarily for the citizens of our country. To now overtly position oneself against China is a fire hazard.

In that regard, we of the AfD demand of Annalena Baerbock to verbally disarm and to again devote herself to diplomacy. That would be the core duty of a Foreign Minister who represents German interests.

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

 

Götz Frömming, July 8, 2022, Biotechnology Subvention

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/48, pp. 5115-5116.

Frau President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen.

Frau Werner, I really must say: That was just a typical political speech. One hears, everything rushes past, and afterwards one asks:  What then did she actually say? Since what therein was concrete?

            Lena Werner (SPD): Then you need to listen!

            Johannes Fechner (SPD): Yet that can lie with you!

So there was nothing concrete there. To that extent, colleague Jarzombek is quite right: We urgently need a new start. The government – we have heard it today – has here apparently done no forward thinking.

Ladies and gentlemen, it has already been said: Germany formerly was the world’s pharmacy. It could be re-filled with Nobel prizes. Not far from here at the Humboldt Universität – formerly called the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität – it rained Nobel prizes. Today, the Humboldt Universität shines – “shines’ in quotes – in left-wing organizations’ hindering of natural science lectures. You for once need to clarify that, ladies and gentlemen. And that is only the tip of the iceberg. We unfortunately need to confirm: In Germany, there no longer prevails a good climate for free science and research.

Now to the CDU/CSU’s motion. You have, ja, many times said what we also find to be correct, that we need to strengthen Germany as a venue. The instrument which you now put forward is however a special European one which is not only for the areas of biotechnology or health research but with which we have already had experience in other areas. Perhaps you have also taken note of the criticism made of this European distribution mechanism. For example, the German chamber of industry and commerce warns of – I cite – a “subventions squandering”. In that regard, we should reconsider when tax money should flow into an area in which in a previous time gigantic profits were nevertheless made.

Nevertheless, let us take a look: You have just now rightly made mention of the firm BioNTech – which belongs to Pfizer. How then does it look? In 2021 for BioNTech alone, the net profit was 10.3 billion euros. Ladies and gentlemen, was that not also money which should flow into research? It also needs to be asked: Can it be right that the taxpayer steadily promotes such businesses when they are in formation, yet then will forget to conclude the corresponding contract so something of this risk capital also again flows back? No private risk capital investor would do that. Unfortunately, with our tax money it will so proceed. This is precisely a form of subvention which cannot be right, ladies and gentlemen.

Thomas Jarzombek (CDU/CSU): That’s not right! We have participated in venture   capital. Herr colleague, in the Lufthansa we have earned one billion for the taxpayer!

Let us also cast a glance at the German promotion practice. I sometime ago placed an inquiry and the result was interesting. The Federal government confirmed and conceded that 90 percent of research money levied from the German taxpayer flows to foreign or international firms and projects. Those are mostly larger firms. The smaller, here nationally anchored firms, the KMU, generally go away empty-handed. For them, the application procedure alone is too complicated. Here also we urgently need to reconsider our promotion practice so as to only promote that which needs a promotion, ladies and gentlemen.

Let me in concluding say one thing: Certainly the pandemic has shown that, when it becomes serious, each is closest to himself. We have seen that in regards the masks. We have seen that in regards the vaccine distribution. One thing I believe is also important for us in times which perhaps are somewhat relaxed: We need to again learn to think and to act nationally. All other countries do that, and we also should do that, ladies and gentlemen.

Many thanks.

 

[trans: tem]