The German Chancellor intends to immediately open the social state reform, but his prediction of harsh negotiation has caused questions. Friedrich Mertz has been criticized as a “lonely chancellor” because he has often announced his decisions. He has also been accused of being “foreign chancellor” for having devoted a lot of time to “international affairs”, traveling overseas.

On Saturday he decided to indirectly respond to the second category, confirming the first. Speaking at a party event in Osenabrook, he announced harsh negotiations with the partners of the Social Democrats on the hot issue of social state reforms.

He even made sure to set red lines by saying: “With this government, under my own leadership, there will be no increase in income tax for medium -sized businesses in Germany, even if there are some in the SPD who finds a pleasure in discussing tax increases.”

It was also a warning shot to the Social Democrat Vice -Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Kleningbail, who in his previous statements had left the possibility of taxing high incomes and large property. “No alternative will leave the table,” said Kleningbail, who has announced that there are black holes in the budgets of the coming years and has asked his colleagues to send him proposals, which could reduce unnecessary costs.

‘We need to improve’

The absolute tone of Mertz statements caused a sense because it is precisely aware of the “sensitivity” of social democrats on social issues, but also the friction that has already appeared within the government, preventing its proper functioning. The Chancellor himself admitted that he was not satisfied with what his government has achieved so far. “We have to improve,” he said characteristically, but indirectly threw the greatest share of responsibility on his partners, wishing the SPD to become “more critical of immigration and more friendly to industry”.

What industry is asking for is more incentives, tax exemptions, flexibility in the workplace and cuts in the social sector. All that those members of the SPD who were scared that had reservations about entering this government from the beginning. Mertz, however, seems ready to take the risk of a conflict by continuing in a categorical style: “I will not be affected by phrases such as social deconstruction and deforestation, and everything else that accompanies them,” he said. “The welfare state as we have today is no longer economically viable on the basis of what we achieve as an economy,” he added, admitting that these are unpleasant findings for the Social Democrats. “But the appeal is addressed to all of us: Let us show together that change is possible, that reforms are possible.”

Left -wing reactions

The reactions did not take long, though the leadership of Social Democracy avoided lifting tones. The flag was raised, as is usual, that the new Social Democrats with their President Philip Turmer referring to his own red lines. “If the idea for autumn reforms is cuts in social benefits and social benefits, I can only say clearly: the SPD should not agree with them by one centimeter,” Turmer told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper.

The head of the Left Parliamentary Group, Heidi Raynek, on behalf of the opposition, warned of a “autumn of social cruelty”. At the moment, we are witnessing “how labor rights and the welfare state are attacked by a mass campaign by think tanks, employer associations and so -called experts,” he told AFP news agency. The Christian Union CDU/CSU is “the spearhead of attacks”. Raichinek demanded that the property tax be reinforced as a source of additional state revenue.

What Raichinek means is that at the initiative of various Institutes that are affiliated with the Christian Democrats, conservative politicians speak almost daily about the need for the Germans to work for more hours and for more years, to stop abusing social benefits. These days the idea of ​​entering a ticket fell to the table, which will be paid by those who visit doctors to reduce the number of visits for no particular reason.

Welfare

This debate is pioneered by Economy Minister Katerina Rae, who comes from the economy and substantially supports fixed demands of employers’ associations to reduce the high cost of labor and greater flexibility in working conditions. It is no coincidence that the positive reception found in the German economic and conservative types promoted in Greece, such as flexible work, 13 -hour, the casual employment in which the unions stand against.

The coalition’s government program referred to fundamental reforms in Social Security Systems – for example, in the (basic) “citizens’ income, pensions and health insurance, with the backdrop of costing costs and the need to cut state and state budgets. Scheduled reforms are aimed at maintaining the viability of the welfare state. Expert committees will process specific proposals, some of which are expected to be presented first in the fall.

Mertz statements essentially show as if they are prejudice to these suggestions and are also a kind of “challenge” for the government partner in a period, which on the basis of official figures, the economy remains on a slight shrinkage. Mertz takes the risk of shaking the Social Democrats, obviously believing that they have no choice but to continue working with him.