(de-news.net) – SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch has offered a pointed critique of Green Chancellor candidate Robert Habeck, asserting that Habeck would benefit from reallocating his focus from personal endeavors to his ministerial responsibilities. Miersch highlighted the paradox of Habeck dedicating time to writing books while neglecting significant legislative matters, such as the power plant strategy, which he argued reflected misplaced priorities.

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), on the other hand, expressed support for Habeck’s proposal to allocate capital income toward financing social contributions, albeit with the stipulation that small savers be exempted and attention be directed toward larger fortunes. The Social Association of Germany similarly endorsed the concept.

In contrast, Baas, CEO of Techniker Krankenkasse, contended that merely injecting additional funds into the health system without addressing underlying inefficiencies would not provide a sustainable solution. FDP leader Christian Dürr warned that the proposal could impose up to €200,000 in costs on families over four decades, while the AfD denounced it as detrimental to German savers.

Economic expert Martin Werding also criticized Habeck’s plan, asserting that Germany’s healthcare system suffers from an expenditure, rather than a revenue, problem. Werding suggested that increased funding would only obscure the need for structural reforms, underscoring the necessity of improving the management of healthcare providers and insurers.

Habeck had previously emphasized that income from capital should be taxed at a comparable rate to labor income. Small savers should be exempt from the policy. However, a concrete framework for the proposal has yet to be disclosed.