Social Democrats discuss the future party line on the island of Norderney for two days. Your solution strategies are a clear message to the FDP. Can the Chancellor enforce this?
The sinking SPD ship, a Titanic comparison, a lot of headwind – the many Social Democrats prefer not to hear about that as they stand on the ferry to Norderney and drive to the East Frisian island for their two-day retreat. Nevertheless, an icy wind blows against party chairman Saskia Esken and parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich in the morning as they stand at the railing of the ferry.
It almost seems as if the federal government is moving its seat of government to the East Frisian island for two days, because Bundestag President Bärbel Bas is also traveling with the comrades from the large state associations of the SPD from North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Bremen in her role as SPD- MPs as well as the ministers of labour, health and defense.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also coming. That’s why security precautions have been in full swing for days and are causing some island residents to shake their heads.
The solution for that Budget dispute
Over salmon and shrimp cocktail, the comrades agree on how to solve the financial problems of the future and get out of the protracted budget dispute with Finance Minister Lindner. It’s a kind of wish list – and it’s a long one: a new special fund for defense is called for in an SPD parliamentary group paper.
But there should not only be more money for the Bundeswehr, but also for internal security, including for Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. A Germany fund – a combination of private and state capital should ensure more investments. And there are calls for reform of the debt brake and a crisis levy on assets.
“This state has to invest,” explains SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil and defends the idea of reforming the debt brake. He is concerned about the debate about longer working lives. “If anyone comes up with the idea during the budget negotiations that you can’t retire without deductions after 45 years, I have to tell them, we won’t go along with that,” threatens Klingbeil.
No saving on the welfare state
The SPD party leader Esken admits that these demands from the SPD are not entirely new ARD capital studio a. A lot of things had already been decided at the party conference and they didn’t want to annoy the FDP finance minister. But the SPD now wants to show solutions, numerous ones. Saving on the welfare state is simply not possible.
You can tell how much the Social Democrats want to manage the balancing act, that they also want to implement all the social promises during their time in government and that they have to spend more money on external and internal security in the current crises.
Tired of the FDP
But you can also tell they’re tired of the constant arguments with the liberals. And the sentence that comes up again and again is that the FDP is slowing down, that they are simply frustrated and that the Chancellor now has to find a solution.
Scholz is coming to Norderney by helicopter for a good hour to get his comrades excited about the election campaign. He thinks the SPD has already achieved a “turnaround” in social cohesion.
A good hour for a good atmosphere: Chancellor Scholz lists successes at the SPD spring conference – and promises improvement.
The Chancellor lists the minimum wage, housing benefit, child benefit and child allowance – and also makes a clear statement on the subject of pensions. The comrades should not be “swayed” by the debate about pensions. People always pretend that the pension is a charming blessing.
“People have paid in for years. This is a right to wealth,” says Scholz, pointing to the SPD’s success in keeping pension levels stable.
Applause and criticism
The Chancellor received a lot of applause for such statements. However, criticism is inevitable. The comrades also complain that the social middle, the 25 to 55 year olds, are disappointed with the SPD because there is still a lack of daycare places, carers for relatives and they do not feel financially relieved.
The Chancellor promises to pay more attention to families and their life concepts. All-day care at schools is also important. Then he leaves the island as quickly as he came.
A few Social Democrats remain who now hope that the Chancellor will implement the many social promises from the island in Berlin too.
Katharina Seiler, NDR, currently Norderney, tagesschau, April 19, 2024 4:31 p.m