Armin Petschner-Multari is the founder of TheRepublic.de, a new conservative political online platform dedicated “to stop the move to the left in Germany” which is also being supported by new CDU leader Friedrich Merz. After working on several German federal and state election campaigns, Armin Petschner-Multari made the move to Berlin to serve as Head of Digital Communications for the CSU-Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag, before launching TheRepublic.de last October.
He’s interviewed exclusively for Brussels Report by Lorenzo Montanari (@lorenzmontanari), Executive Director of the Property Rights Alliance (PRA), as the sixth interview in a series of prominent European supporters of free market economics:
Lorenzo Montanari: In terms of national economic reform, what’s the biggest challenge for Germany?
Armin Petschner-Multari: The demographic change is by far one of Germany’s biggest economic challenges. Not only will the German pension system be overstretched when the generation of Baby-Boomers finally retires, it will also be increasingly difficult for German companies to find adequate skilled labour. European labour migration can be a partial solution to ease the problem but it will most likely not completely deal with the labour shortage.
Lorenzo Montanari: Can you tell us more about TheRepublic.de? What’s its most recent research project?
Armin Petschner-Multari: TheRepublic is Germany’s first conservative campaigning platform, emulating concepts and structures that are widely known in the United States. We promote conservative activism in Germany, something that has not been done before. Research-wise, we want to focus on reforming the German public broadcasting service, which is too expensive and politically unbalanced. Hence, in spring, we will launch a campaign in cooperation with media analysts and pollsters to back our political demands and work with affiliated think-tanks to raise awareness for the issue.
Lorenzo Montanari: From a free-market point of view, how would you handle the current debate on nuclear energy?
Armin Petschner-Multari: The battle regarding the future of nuclear power has been lost to the Greens and it will cost Germany’s economy dearly. Energy prices are already at record highs and will remain there in the near and foreseeable future. The most recent developments at the European level have sparked some renewed debate, but the new German government will not change course.
Lorenzo Montanari: What will change inside the CDU in term of policies under the new leadership of Frederic Merz? And what will change inside the EPP with Merz?
Armin Petschner-Multari: With Friedrich Merz at the helm, the CDU will rediscover its conservative roots, which has been badly neglected during the last years of Angela Merkel’s Chancellorship. Merz is also known to be a champion of free markets, which will have an impact on EPP policies. We can also likely expect approachment towards the Visegrád Group.
Lorenzo Montanari: What do you think should be the priority of the German government in terms of EU policy?
Armin Petschner-Multari: Migration, particularly illegal migration, will be one of the main challenges for the European continent in the future. So far, Brussels has shamefully failed to find a solution. A common European border regime therefore needs to be one of the main priorities of the new German government. However, given the current political set-up this seems unlikely, and the German administration will rather sabotage stricter measures than advance them.
Lorenzo Montanari: Where do you think the European Union offers most value for Germany and where is it failing to provide value?
Armin Petschner-Multari: The German economy profits from the European Market and from the freedom of movement for people and goods. So, economically, Germany is definitely profiting from the European Union. However, many of the policies now pushed by the European Commission are, in my view, going to hurt German consumers and the German economy. This is evident when taking a look at the proposed European “Taxonomy” regulations. Also many other issues, from environmental regulations to meddling into the financial and banking systems, are outrageous.
Lorenzo Montanari: Do you think Germany should push to abolish the EU recovery fund, so it cannot be extended?
Armin Petschner-Multari: The EU recovery fund, in its current form, was a mistake, from a German perspective and should under no circumstances be extended.
Lorenzo Montanari: What book would you recommend for any center rights activists?
Armin Petschner-Multari: The “Open Society and its Enemies” by Karl Popper is a powerful and passionate defense of modern democracy. Written by one of the most profound political authors of the 20th century, Popper’s work draws on the fundamental notions of common sense, human decency, fairness and compassion, which are common to most people in the Western democracies today.
In the age of „wokeness“ and so called “political correctness” Popper is as relevant now as he was back in his days. A true political masterpiece.
Der Weg, den Teile der Union im Herbst 2015 in Bezug auf die Migrationspolitik eingeschlagen haben, war ein großer Fehler. Schön, dass man diesen Irrweg nun endlich beendet. Das ist gut für unser Land.
— Armin Petschner-Multari (@ArminPetschner) January 12, 2022
Der Kapitalismus hat nie da gewesenen Wohlstand ermöglicht und ehemalige Luxuswaren zu Alltagsgegenständen gemacht. Freiheit und Marktwirtschaft haben sich als überlegen erwiesen. Dennoch trauern Linke immer noch einer gescheiterten sozialistischen Ideologie nach. pic.twitter.com/H8Uewbdy7D
— TheRepublic (@TheRepublicDe) January 19, 2022
Please also read the first, second, third, fourth and fifth interview of Brussels Report’s interview series of prominent European supporters of free market economics.
