Press on urgent reforms. "Cut first"

Coalition discussions on budget savings and welfare state spending are inactive the main themes of the German press. In addition, the media criticises insufficient actions on the issue of the weak economy.


"Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" notes: "SPD rightly criticises the fact that the discussion on the welfare state is limited to the issue of basic income. But it is besides about limitations or cuts.... However, the Chancellor gave way to any of his minister of social affairs. 'We do not want to destruct it, we do not want to put up with it', he said, referring to the fresh harmony on the welfare state in the government coalition, and then added, 'We do not want to limit it either'. (...) Merz will find it hard to explain how he intends to save EUR 5 billion on civilian income. Also, the parliamentary clubs of the government coalition organization and organization office do not supply any clear information about this. (...) It can already be said that 'the autumn of reforms' is clearly based on the hope that by that time the economical spring will come'.

"Saarbruecker Zeitung" emphasises: "Before and after the gathering of the coalition committee it became clear how the structure of power in the SPD had clearly changed between the 2 co-chairs of this party. It loses the Minister of Finance and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, who, despite his tremendous debt, must fill the budget holes of billions of euros, which is improbable to gain popularity and surely not in his own party. The shawl leans towards the side of a female from the Ruhr Bas (Baerbel Bas – ed.) who is able to decision social democratic souls more powerfully and who even after losing the election to the Bundestag alternatively cautiously, alternatively than as violently as Klingbeil, sought to gain power."

"Muenchner Merkur" writes: "The most delicate issues have so far been discussed only behind closed doors. Of course, civic income is of large symbolic value, but even the possible to save EUR 5 billion on it will not heal the state budget. The factors that make costs that are increasingly paralysing the state are pensions, welfare expenses and wellness insurance. And no 1 should believe that a small digitization will solve these problems. No, he won't. Reforms frequently mean cuts: less benefits for insured persons, little benefits for service providers and most likely longer working time for all. Those afraid will be sarcasm and lobbyists protest. Reforms do, but not with us and not with us!".

According to the "Rheinfalz" of Ludwigshafen, "The fact that 1 wants to end discussions with one's own group now is simply a value in itself, but does not solve any of the pressing problems, which include, above all, the persistent weak economical situation. If the economy had started to revive, many of the problems of the CDU/CSU and SPD coalitions would have been solved, the force to reduce civilian income would have decreased, which is not possible due to the position of the national Constitutional Court. However, the planet economy and customs policy of the United States can thwart even the best economical strategy. If the Chancellor continues to rise the hopes of voters besides high, he risks being disappointed. And neither the CDU/CSU union nor the SPD presently request one".

"Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger" analyses: "Two summits will shortly be held – dedicated to the falling steel manufacture and the automotive manufacture in crisis. It is notable that the leaders of the government coalition sale the same announcement of conversation formats as success. Hooray, we're organizing a summit! In the past, however, specified meetings were not lacking. The last summit on metallurgy was 9 months ago, and the last industrial summit was eleven months ago. The heads of automotive companies visit the Chancellor's Office almost all year. If summits could revive economical growth, The Germans would last an unprecedented boom. Unfortunately, good words and good pictures are not adequate to make a return in the economy. To accomplish it, you gotta take any action – which seldom happens during specified summits".

Written by Dagmara Jakubczak