Bundestag
Scholz on Merz’s plumber comparison: “Proud of this praise”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) during the government statement on the budget situation. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz describes the Chancellor as the “plumber of power” – and he is certainly impressed by the comparison.
Criticism or praise? Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was proud of the opposition leader’s comparison to a plumber Friedrich Merz. On Tuesday, after his government statement in the Bundestag, the CDU leader accused Scholz of only having technical answers to a highly political decision in the budget crisis. “You are a plumber of power,” criticized Merz.
A few hours later, the Chancellor’s reply came: “I am a supporter of craftsmanship in Germany,” said Scholz when asked after a meeting with Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela. You have to have done things for a long time to do them well – even in government. “And I think I have a certain parallel with this honorable craft of plumbing,” said Scholz. “I, for one, am proud of this praise.”
Merz had already unintentionally attracted ridicule with his plumber comparison in the Bundestag. “Plumbers of power? We love it!” wrote the SPD party executive on the platform X (formerly Twitter). “Thank you for this compliment, Mr. Merz.” Because plumbers deserve just as much respect as chancellors. “Whether it’s gas, water, shit or any other crisis situation – we’re not above taking action when things get stuck,” emphasized the SPD. She replaces the word shit with an emoji in her post.
Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) also asked about the Merz comparison: “Does he mean that negatively?” Because plumbers are workers. “They solve problems, not just stand by while others work.”