SPD closed meeting
Merz “shocked” by SPD election campaign plans
Friedrich Merz doesn’t give a damn about the SPD plans (archive photo). photo
© Fabian Sommer/dpa
“The calculation doesn’t add up” – with these words the CDU leader dismisses the SPD’s plans for relief and economic strengthening. The main lines of the federal election campaign are emerging.
Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has that SPD plans for relief for 95 percent of taxpayers criticized as completely unrealistic. The SPD could have made some relief in its last almost 20 years in government, said Merz on ARD in Caren Miosga’s show. “If, however, that means at the same time that they want to place even greater burdens on the so-called higher earners, then our answer is clear and unequivocal: No. That is a burden for the middle class.”
This Monday, the SPD federal executive board will conclude its closed meeting to prepare for the federal election. The day before, the Social Democrats had approved a strategy paper intended to end the economic slump in Germany. Party leader Lars Klingbeil announced for the federal election campaign: “The crucial question that citizens should ask themselves when they go to the voting booth is: Do they want Friedrich Merz or Olaf Scholz as Chancellor.” In terms of content, the SPD relies on an active state and the rescue of industry.
“The bill doesn’t add up”
The SPD wants to relieve the burden on 95 percent of taxpayers with an income tax reform. The one percent at the top of the income scale should pay for this. These people should be held “a little more responsible”. According to party leader Saskia Esken, it’s about income starting at 15,000 euros per month.
“The calculation doesn’t add up,” said Merz. In addition, those affected are not the higher earners. “These are the top performers in our society,” said Merz. “These are often medium-sized entrepreneurs, these are the craft businesses.” Merz: “If you implement what the SPD decided today, relieve 95 percent of the burden and burden one percent, then for the one percent you will have a 60 percent tax burden plus.” Then the downturn and migration would continue.
Merz: SPD drives out companies
According to the CDU chairman, he was “even more shocked” because of the “old pattern” in the SPD. “More state, more debt, more bureaucracy, higher taxes for the rich, as the SPD always likes to call it,” said the candidate for chancellor. “If they continue this jargon in Germany, then we don’t have to be surprised about the migration of companies to neighboring countries in Europe.”
Miersch sees “directional decision”
The new SPD general secretary Matthias Miersch classifies the election campaign as a “directional decision”. “Citizens will have to decide whether to go back to the old mothballs. That’s what Friedrich Merz’s approach represents,” he said in a podcast from the magazine “Politico” (Monday).
According to Miersch, the SPD is focusing on final projects for the traffic light and key points for the election campaign at its board meeting. “The topic of wealth tax will definitely be mentioned in the election program,” announced the Secretary General.
“Promises she can’t keep”
The economic policy spokeswoman for the Union faction, Julia Klöckner (CDU), criticized the SPD strategy paper as “not credible”. The SPD is “once again making promises that it cannot keep – and that it has not managed to achieve in government,” she told the “Welt”.