On Monday morning, DP MP Gilles Baum spoke to RTL Radio about the Caritas scandal, pension reform, and his concerns over the strong results of the AfD in recent German state elections.

Baum, the parliamentary group leader of the Democratic Party (DP), emphasised that politics cannot return to "business as usual" following the Caritas scandal.

He expressed support for a draft bill proposed by the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), which seeks to implement a four- or eight-eye principle for transactions involving associations that have agreements with the state.

Baum illustrated this by citing local politics: if he were to spend €10 on behalf of the municipality of Junglinster, he would require signatures from the mayor, the second highest-ranking member of the municipal executive board ("Schäfferot"), and the municipal secretary before the transaction could proceed.

While Baum acknowledged that no system can guarantee "100% security," he argued that such measures could establish a minimum standard.

For the DP, Baum stressed that it is crucial to ensure that Caritas continues its work with the state, particularly in support of the most vulnerable individuals, and that the jobs of the more than 500 Caritas employees are safeguarded, as they are not responsible for the financial scandal.

Baum refrained from commenting on the future of Caritas' current management and administrative board, noting that the outcomes of the ongoing investigation must be awaited. He also pointed out that the investigation into the role of the banks, conducted by the Financial Sector Supervisory Commission (CSSF) and the European Central Bank (ECB), should be allowed to proceed without premature judgment.

"Definitely" no cuts to small pensions

Pension reform was another topic discussed during the interview with Gilles Baum. Discussions on this issue are expected to begin in a few weeks, with the DP having already invited social partners to participate. Baum stressed that while the pension system needs regular review, there will be "definitely" no large-scale cuts. He acknowledged that some adjustments are necessary due to the increasing number of pensioners but assured that the DP will not support reductions in small or medium pensions.

Strong AFD results are "a disaster"

Baum also commented on the recent strong performance of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) in state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, calling it a "disaster." He attributed the results to voter dissatisfaction with the current three-party federal government, which includes the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party (Die Grünen), and the neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), as well as dissatisfaction with migration policy. Baum argued that while limiting migration is economically unfeasible, the deportation of "criminals" to their home countries, as proposed by the German federal government, is feasible.