(de-news.net) – SPD Chairman Lars Klingbeil has urged Opposition Leader Friedrich Merz to collaborate on implementing economic relief measures. In an interview on the ARD program “Bericht aus Berlin,” Klingbeil emphasized the urgency of acting now rather than waiting until May or April when a new government might be in office. He called on Merz to take responsibility as opposition leader and support the passage of economic relief packages, including reducing energy prices. Klingbeil highlighted the importance of promoting economic growth, which requires advancing investments, lowering energy prices, addressing the skilled labor shortage, and simplifying bureaucratic processes.
However, CDU leader Merz rejected the idea of cooperating with the SPD on reducing energy prices before the Bundestag election, citing the lack of a budget for such measures. Following Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s confidence vote, the Union faction has decided not to negotiate joint legislative resolutions with the SPD and Greens in the Bundestag. CDU/CSU Parliamentary Secretary Thorsten Frei stated that Scholz had three years to govern. Frei emphasized that the Union aims to bring about a political change on February 23 and will only discuss urgent, necessary matters with the SPD and Greens. One exception mentioned by Frei is the law to protect the Federal Constitutional Court from political influence, which is already agreed upon and will be enacted.
In a different development, Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz dismissed criticisms that the Union’s election program lacks proposals for financing their campaign promises. In a television interview, Merz stated that the Union plans to overhaul the citizen’s income system, potentially saving billions of Euros. He also noted that a Union-led government would stimulate economic growth, with one percent growth generating ten billion Euros in additional state revenue. The Union promises tax relief and lower energy costs.
SPD Chairman Klingbeil countered that the CDU and CSU’s proposals would cost the federal budget approximately 100 billion Euros annually without any clear financing plans. In contrast, the SPD’s election program outlines reforms to the debt brake, the establishment of a Germany fund, and higher taxes for high earners to finance investments and relief measures.
