The Economic Council (German: Wirtschaftsrat der CDU e.V.) is a major German business and lobby association representing the interests of around 12,000 members and member firms.[1] Members are drawn from all sectors of the German economy including banking and finance, insurance, the automotive and chemical industries, healthcare and high-tech.
The aim of the council is to promote a social market economy based on the principles of Ludwig Erhard, economy minister of the Federal Republic of Germany between 1949 and 1963 and widely regarded as the initiator of Germany’s Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle) during the 1950s.[2] Although the organisation is both financially and ideologically independent it has traditionally had close ties to the free-market liberal wing of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Angela Merkel. For this reason it is referred to as the Economic Council to the CDU, which is in fact the literal translation of its German name. This description can also be attributed to the link with Erhard, who was one of the founding members of the association.[3] The council's president is entitled ex officio to participate in meetings of the CDU Executive as a "permanent guest", including the right to speak.[4]
- ^ "Was ist der Wirtschaft?". Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ^ "Die Soziale Marktwirtschaft - Ludwig Erhard und das Wirtschaftswunder". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ^ "Ist der Wirtschaftsrat unabhängig?". Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ^ Roßmann, Robert (16 March 2021). "Stammgast im Zentrum der Macht" [Regular guest at the center of power]. Sueddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
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