On Merz – Der Spiegel ( Markus Dettmer, Florian Diekmann, Maria Fiedler, Matthias Gebauer, Christoph Hickmann, Christian Reiermann and Jonas Schaible):
‘Merz heads home to his apartment in Berlin knowing that he is closer than ever before to his loftiest goal. That by the time spring arrives, he might finally be the chancellor of Germany.’
(…)
‘On a recent Wednesday evening at CDU headquarters in Berlin, the party was hosting a discussion on military conscription and Merz took advantage of the event to hold a policy speech on national security. Should he become chancellor, he said, he will tell the Germans bluntly that the "relative brief period of peace in Europe” following the fall of the Berlin Wall is now over. A strong German military is needed, he said.’
(…)
‘It is, in fact, one of the greatest dilemmas Merz might face as German chancellor: Either he cuts taxes for companies and workers – which would require him to bid adieu to the debt brake. Or he remains loyal to the debt brake – and would be unable to lower taxes.
Are there potential alternatives? Merz could cut spending elsewhere or, for example, raise VAT. Both would be likely to trigger protests, something Merz would, no doubt, like to avoid. Making a reform of the debt-brake law a necessity. Indeed, Merz indicated for the first time last week a willingness to consider the proposition.’
(…)
‘The CDU has pledged to completely cut off payments to those who are unwilling to work. High court judges have allowed an exception on this point – but the provision has already been written into law – by Scholz’s coalition. The conditions are so specific, however, that the situation almost never comes up in practice. "My assessment is that it is impossible to find a practicable regulation for a complete elimination of payments that does not also affect the wrong people – and that is prohibited by the constitution,” says Kießling. She also believes that the CDU’s plan to cut off welfare payments after just the second missed appointment at the job office is unconstitutional.’
(…)
‘Would the country be completely different if Merz came to power? There is little to indicate such a thing. It looks more like he would only slightly adjust the direction embarked on by Olaf Scholz in a few areas – and that he would try to improve the efficiency of government in others, an efficiency that was lacking in Scholz’s coalition.’
(…)
‘Would the country be completely different if Merz came to power? There is little to indicate such a thing. It looks more like he would only slightly adjust the direction embarked on by Olaf Scholz in a few areas – and that he would try to improve the efficiency of government in others, an efficiency that was lacking in Scholz’s coalition.’
Read the article here.
The Trumpian revolution is knocking on the door, but in Germany voters will be seduced with the promise of more of the same, just slightly more effective. (See also under: Democrats in the US.)
As a German diplomat told me tonight: ‘The SPD has a huge problem, but the CDU has an immense problem as well. Everything below 35% for the CDU should be considered a failure.’