What else does this government actually have planned? In the Bundestag, Chancellor Scholz says how he wants to lead Germany and the traffic light coalition out of the crisis – and makes allusions to the budget. This causes amusement in the Union.
After the European elections, Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked if he wanted to comment on the result. His answer: “Nope.” What was probably meant to be funny did not go down well. The opposition was seething and the press was surprised – to put it mildly. This Wednesday, Scholz took the opportunity to make up for what he had missed. His message was not exactly new: he lashed out at the AfD and called for more confidence in the country. Self-criticism was hardly to be heard.
Opposition leader and CDU leader Friedrich Merz laughed out loud. In his reply, he hurled at the head of government: “You have no idea, no plan, no concept,” the coalition is only concerned with maintaining power. “That is what is still holding you together.”
People in Germany and Europe have lost confidence, said Scholz about the European elections. Constant crises have shaken trust in politics. Be it Russia’s war against Ukraine, the war in the Gaza Strip or inflation. “That applies to Europe, that applies to Germany too and we have to face up to it.” The election result was a turning point. The answer to that is “concrete, practical answers to the issue.”
He cited illegal migration and internal and external security as examples. The EU has made important decisions with the reform of the Common Border Security System (CEAS) – such as asylum procedures at the external borders. Putin is continuing to rely on war, and no one can ignore that. Scholz commented on his supposed peace offer with a touch of sarcasm. Anyone who believes that this could lead to lasting peace is probably watching too much Russia Today.
Warm words for the FDP – and the SPD
But Scholz also used the opportunity to talk about domestic politics – more specifically, the negotiations on the budget for the coming year. The talks were very collegial, he said. At this point, the opposition burst into laughter for the first time. Scholz did not let that go. The Union is dependent on speculation and that shows how confidential things are, he countered. “Because we do it among ourselves, as is appropriate in a well-run federal government,” he said.
By which he meant himself, of course, because he is the leader in this government. He left something else out of the question: the negotiations are so dramatic because the government he leads has not been able to agree on a common line for a long time. Suspend the debt brake – yes or no? This question could break the traffic light coalition. Scholz did not say a word on the subject.
But there were a few sentences that seemed like a pat on the back for the FDP. The economy must grow, it needs dynamism, even a “growth boost” – all words that Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner has been using since the turn of the year to promote an economic turnaround. But Scholz also had warm words for the SPD and the Greens: under his leadership, there will be no cuts in social justice, health, care or pensions.
But where then? Scholz, Lindner and the Green Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck are currently racking their brains over this question. They actually wanted to have a draft budget ready by July 3. On this Tuesday it was said that it could be later. In any case, the budget is to be presented to the Bundestag for a vote on August 15. Will that work? As I said, the negotiations are a bit dramatic.
Cheerfulness at the Union
Scholz made the Union laugh again when he gave himself and his government a good report card for economic policy. “I’m one of those people who haven’t done any sport for years and then suddenly start doing it,” he said. “It’s very arduous at first. And with each round and the longer you do it, your stamina increases and you get fitter and faster.” It’s the same with the economy. “After decades in which the necessary things were not done to keep the German economy fit, the current government is ensuring that the necessary decisions are made.”
That was a certain chutzpah, because as Merz later pointed out, the SPD had been in government for 20 of the past 24 years. 16 of those years, however, were under CDU Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose name Merz did not mention.
Scholz also had a lot to say to Brussels, as the EU summit on Thursday was formally one of the reasons for his government statement. He called for more free trade agreements. “We have not handed over our authority over trade policy and trade agreements to the European Union so that no agreements are concluded,” he said. Instead, they should be bigger and more effective. This applies to Indonesia, India, the South American bloc Mercosur and others.
He also addressed the dispute with China over tariffs on cars. Brussels and Beijing now want to negotiate again, that was the main result of Economics Minister Robert Habeck’s trip to China. “I am very happy that this is also thanks to the initiative of the Chancellor and my government,” Scholz began. But then he first reacted to the laughter that arose. “You can clap, you have clapped many times before. It would also be possible after this point,” he said in Merz’s direction. “We have ensured that the trains do not simply converge, but that the EU and China are now talking about a common path on car tariffs.”
Habeck is not mentioned
Scholz did not mention his vice-chancellor. Perhaps because he could be a direct competitor in the race for the chancellorship in the future?
Merz, whose first part of his rebuttal itself resembled a government statement, said: “You are responsible for the fact that the problems in our country are not being solved. After such election results, you are obviously incapable of self-criticism and correcting your policies.”
Scholz did not infect the opposition leader with his confidence. Which is not surprising. The more important question is whether he will be able to do this with anyone else during this government period. He still has until November next year. If the government holds up.