When the economic council of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) perceives the principles of the social market economy in danger, it rarely uses a delicate approach. Instead, it deploys heavy artillery to brand the planners, of whom there are evidently many in the current government coalition. Thus, the anniversary celebration held by the influential business organization for its 60th birthday in a Berlin hotel was less of a joyful occasion and more of a large lamentation about government interference and restrictions on freedom. President Astrid Hamker attributes this to the lack of economic expertise within the political leadership in Berlin and Brussels. "The importance of prosperity and growth for social peace is no longer understood by large parts of left-wing politics – this is alarming", laments Hamker.

The economic council sees itself as a defender of Ludwig Erhard's legacy. The presence of a large bust of the former chancellor and former minister of economics on the stage next to the lectern is intended to underscore that his principles are still relevant today. The economic council has always been aware of what it owes to Erhard, says Secretary-General Wolfgang Steiger, referring to Erhard's 75th birthday gift: The economic council had promised to pay for his cigars until the end of his life. It was up to 15 a day.

As a symbol of the anti-cigar smoker, the current Federal Minister of Economics is particularly targeted by the economic council. Not only does CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who always has a home game in this round, launch harsh attacks against Robert Habeck. Economist Lars P. Feld, former economic advisor to the German governemnt and now advisor to the finance minister, accuses the Green politician of populism in the context of his industrial strategy. Merz states that he also supports the ecological transformation of the economy – but following different principles. He emphasizes that the next federal election will be a directional choice.

According to Roland Koch, head of the Ludwig Erhard Foundation, it will be a "huge task" when a "market-oriented government" takes over again and "sends the planners to the sidelines." The former prime minister warned that the principles of the social market economy are not always enthusiastically written into election programs, citing an example from his own ranks. "Angela Merkel represented quite a few things that could be very well represented in the economic council of the CDU. And that had a lot to do with Ludwig Erhard's social market economy. That is until 2005", notes Koch. From then on, Merkel subsequently was quite successful for 16 years in the belief that one might be more easily elected by not advocating these principles so fervently. This garners an additional round of applause from the audience.

In December 1963, the economic council of the CDU – which continues to not be a party organ – was founded by 157 entrepreneurs in the Bonn Beethoven Hall. Today, the council has more than 12,000 members. Some of them are on stage on this festive evening, like Trumpf CEO Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller. In terms of her current position, she suggests: "I believe we should resist." It hits home. She highlights how the middle class is suffocating from regulation and demands that the government should intervene less in the economy. A representative of the present government coalition is also in attendance on this evening: Volker Wissing. The Minister of Transport declares: "We, as friends of the market economy, must stick together." And with that, everyone can live well.