Chancellor Olaf Solz today defended his government’s work against criticism from Christian Democratic Party (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz as part of the 2024 budget debate. The two leaders agreed only on the need to resist the far right and continue to support Ukrainian.

“We must be united, as democrats,” the chancellor said and, addressing Mr. Merz, criticized the attitude of the current CDU leadership towards its former leader and Chancellor Angela Merkel. “You should be proud of what your head of government has achieved. What we did then was right!”, emphasized Mr. Solz, referring to his cooperation with Mrs. Merkel in the previous government.

Responding to criticism of delays, Olaf Solz stated that “we accelerated where acceleration was necessary” and rejected Mr Merz’s claim that Germany has so far failed to respond to French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for cooperation. “He has reached out his hand to you, take it,” said the leader of the CDU, for the chancellor to reply that he and Emmanuel Macron have already agreed on the reaction they will have to potential international political developments. “It should be clear to everyone: if the world becomes even more difficult, possibly with the outcome of the US elections, the European Union will have to become even stronger. France and Germany should then take on this task (…) Europe is our strongest national interest,” said Mr. Soltz.

The two leaders, however, welcomed the protests of the last few weeks against the AfD. “What is being discussed in the AfD about ‘re-immigration’ is reminiscent of the darkest pages of German history,” said Mr Scholz. Mr. Mertz, for his part, welcomed the anti-far-right demonstrations, but clarified at the same time that not all AfD voters are far-right. “A lot of them are mostly frustrated – with bad government. Even a moderate government would mean the AfD would get fewer votes,” he noted.

Friedrich Merz also sharply criticized the government’s policy of welfare benefits. “From a party of workers, you have now become a party of subsidized unemployment,” said the Christian Democrat politician and reiterated that benefits need to be reviewed, as, “if the benefit is too generous, no one will look for regular work anymore.” He also accused the government of not accepting any suggestion of cooperation from the opposition, which is why his party did not submit a single amendment to the draft budget.

“Economic know-how zero!” countered Olaf Solz and argued that the opposition’s work offers no economic prospects, no prospects for securing seats in Germany. Today Germany has the highest level of employment in its history, continued and even referred to the increase in the minimum wage, tax breaks for the low paid. “You have no idea about the modern German economy”, he repeated in unusually high tones, while emphasizing the unfavorable international situation which burdens the situation in Germany as well.

Regarding Ukraine, the chancellor underlined Berlin’s determination to continue supporting Kiev. “After the US, Germany is the country that helps the most and we will do everything we can to continue to contribute. We must support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom. It is our obligation for peace and security in Europe,” he said and asked for more support from other EU countries.