Clear announcement from the northeast
Schwesig rails against rapid traffic lights
January 22, 2024, 8:10 a.m
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Too much strife, too sudden laws, too little commitment to the rural population. Many people feel taken by surprise by the federal government, says Manuela Schwesig. In an interview, she calls on the federal government to improve and be more close to citizens.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig is calling for fundamental changes to the federal government’s style. To this day, the traffic light coalition argues far too much, “despite assurances to the contrary that it will do better,” the SPD politician told the “Tagesspiegel”. She also criticized decisions made at too short notice. “Sometimes we learn about new laws and proposals overnight.” People felt taken by surprise. Schwesig cited the heating law and the cuts to farmers as examples. That has to change.
In view of the farmers’ protests, she called on the traffic light to do more to support the rural population. “The federal government must pay more attention to rural areas than before.” “Many people here have the impression that the federal government lacks an eye for citizens in rural areas.” The current protests are not about agricultural diesel alone, “but about the attitude to life: You don’t care about us!”
“Many people have lost trust”
Schwesig, who is currently President of the Federal Council, announced an initiative by the state chamber on agricultural diesel. “The problem is that the farmers were not involved in the compromise.” To date, there is still no concrete offer to farmers as to how the switch from agricultural diesel could work. “The farmers simply need more time. In addition, it is about more than just agricultural diesel. “It is the responsibility of all Democrats to ensure that things do not continue like they have been for the past twelve months,” she said.
Many citizens have economic worries and are exhausted by the many crises. “They want a predictable government that is unified and tells them clearly and in a timely manner what happens next.” In her opinion, Schwesig sees the great frustration among the population as a threat to cohesion in the country. “We have to do better to hold the country together,” she demanded. “In these hard times, it’s about nothing less than the question of whether we can preserve our liberal democracy. Many people have lost trust in current politics.”
Schwesig calls for Scholz to be more close to the citizens
Schwesig would like Chancellor Olaf Scholz to have more contact with people. He is strong in direct dialogue with the guarantors. “I would like Olaf Scholz to hold citizen dialogues more often in the future than before, despite his enormous demands,” said the Prime Minister. “Every conversation he has helps.” Scholz recently fell in the polls. According to the ARD Germany trend from January, only 19 percent are satisfied. According to the broadcaster, this is the lowest value since these Chancellor surveys began in 1997. In general, the values of the traffic light parties in the surveys have collapsed, for the SPD to around 13 to 15 percent.
The traffic light groups have announced a dialogue with farmers. Several states will submit a proposal for this at the Federal Council meeting on February 2nd.” Because of the planned gradual abolition of tax relief for agricultural diesel, farmers nationwide have been taking to the streets for weeks. Despite the protests, the traffic light coalition has not backed away from these plans. Here’s to it However, it had quickly abandoned any further plans, but the farmers are not satisfied with that.