Page 118 - The Making of the German Post-war Economy

THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC/ SOCIAL UNION 91

unsatisfactory despite numerous attempts and proposals on the part of
various party members, regional party organisations and even the sister
party CSU. Although Adenauer realised the potential of the Economic
94
Council and its Administration for Economics as a decisive political
instrument in the implementation of his socio-economic agenda, he was
95
arguably more concerned with personnel policy rather than detailed issues
regarding economic policy and the latter’s communication.
By contrast, the then newly-elected Bavarian Minister for Economic
Affairs Hanns Seidel, whose liberal economic and social views based on
96
97
neo- and ordo-liberal ideas influenced the economic and welfare
programme of the CSU adopted at the emergency party conference in
Eichstätt on 31 August 1947, aimed at bringing economic policy and the
98
question for the future economic model for post-war West Germany to
the fore in the public debate. According to Seidel, the public and its
99
opinion played a crucial role in the implementation of any future
economic model as the economy relied on the people. Hence it was
100
essential to centre the individual and to anchor the principle of freedom
not only in the economic and political course of action but firmly in
people’s minds. In doing so, he criticised previous parliamentary and
101
governmental public relations efforts, which had failed to inform the
general public about economic policy. Thus, the appointment of Hanns
102
Seidel to Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs was of particular
importance for both the implementation – all other ministries of
economics in the western zones of occupation were occupied by the
Social Democrats – and the communication of the CDU/CSU’s socio-
103
political and economic agenda. Already at the beginning of his term of
office, Hanns Seidel used the opportunity in the budget debate in the
Bavarian parliament, which was also attended by his fellow party member
Johannes Semler, to outline his liberal as well as social economic concept.
Referring to the interrelation and interdependence of the economy and the
state, Seidel argued for a market economy with regulatory governmental
interference in order to safeguard a social balance; economic liberalism
had to be combined and balanced with social commitment. In such a
104
sozial verpflichtete Leistungswirtschaft (Socially Committed Market
Economy), the state’s influence in the market was rather limited and
105
contingent on the economic and social circumstances. Thus, this
106
economic order was not dogmatic but pragmatic, as it had to be adjusted
to the particular economic realities. Indeed, the dire situation in 1947
which many considered to be the eighth year of the war required a more
directed economy, yet, Seidel aimed at reducing governmental control of
the economy as soon as possible and pleaded for a currency reform. In
107
doing so, the Bavarian Minister for Economic Affairs who understood