Jim Tankersley in NYT: ‘Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a conservative, and his center-left coalition partners are desperately trying to hold off far-right challengers (…) who appeal to voters feeling battered by rising prices, slowing economic growth and growing ruptures in the fabric of their societies. They believe the only way to prevail is to show that the political center can deliver results and govern effectively.’

And: ‘[The plan includes] efforts to shore up public pensions by raising the national retirement age, and a modest tax cut for middle-income families, offset by marginally higher taxes on high earners. The package also cuts regulations, loosens some labor laws and generally tries to goad Germans into working more.’

Also: ‘And even if it passes, voters could recoil. They could decide these plans are the wrong sort of vegetables.’

Do voters want more vegetables?

I’m afraid they want more French fries.

(a sf 2186)