BERLIN (AP) — The leading contenders in Germany’s upcoming elections presented their programs Tuesday, laying out contrasting visions on how to revitalize Europe’s biggest economy and tackle other issues such as migration.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a center-left Social Democrat, will seek a second term in parliamentary elections expected on February 23 – more than three months after his unpopular three-party coalition collapsed in a dispute over how to revive the stagnant economy blown in. He hopes for a victory against centre-right challenger Friedrich Merz, whose Union bloc leads all recent polls.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck of the environmentalist Greens, Scholz’s remaining coalition partner, is also seeking the top job; and Alice Weidel of the far-right Alternative for Germany, which is strong in the polls but has no realistic chance of governing because other parties refuse to cooperate with it.
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The Social Democrats, the Union and the Greens all hope to implement as many of their programs presented on Tuesday as possible, but any new government will almost certainly be a coalition and require extensive compromises.
It’s the economy…
The Union promises tax cuts for individuals and companies and wants to increase the level at which the highest level of income tax, 42%, takes effect. She wants to make overtime financially more attractive. It also wants to abolish a tax that was once paid by everyone to finance the costs of integrating the former East Germany, and is now only levied on higher incomes. It hopes to free up money by reforming the benefits system for the long-term unemployed and getting more people into work. It also wants to reduce VAT on eating out.
Scholz’s Social Democrats promise a lower income tax burden for 95% of incomes. They want to reduce VAT on groceries. The Social Democrats and the Greens want to increase the national minimum wage, which will be 12.82 euros ($13.47) per hour on election day, to 15 euros – an issue both parties campaigned on in 2021. Scholz’s party wants a “made in Germany” bonus. ” to encourage investment in new factories and equipment. It also wants to establish a ‘Germany Fund’ to invest public and private money in energy networks, innovative companies and the construction of new homes. The Greens are proposing something similar to fund infrastructure spending and want the ‘super-rich’ to make a bigger contribution, for example to help fund education. All contenders have proposals to reduce electricity prices.
To borrow or not to borrow
The Social Democrats and Greens want to reform Germany’s self-imposed restrictions on borrowing – the ‘debt brake’, which was introduced more than a decade ago and allows new borrowing as low as 0.35% of annual gross domestic product . suspended due to emergencies beyond the control of the state. The two centre-left parties, who have been vague about exactly how they would adapt it, claim it has become a barrier to investment.
The “debt brake” played a role in the collapse of Scholz’s coalition in November. The chancellor’s former coalition partners, the pro-business Free Democrats, insisted on strictly enforcing this. The Union wants to maintain this, arguing that it has already proven its flexibility in times of crisis and prevents Germany from burdening future generations with debt. But Merz has indicated he could ultimately be open to future reforms.
Migration
The Union wants Germany to return to its border migrants who try to enter the European free travel zone from other countries and apply for asylum. It wants to increase deportations of migrants who have no right to remain and designate more “safe countries of origin,” allowing authorities to speed up asylum procedures. It promises to undo legislation passed under Scholz, which relaxed the rules for obtaining citizenship and ended restrictions on having dual nationality.
The Social Democrats argue that the measures taken by the government, including border controls, are already significantly reducing irregular migration. The Greens want a “fair” and “binding” distribution of asylum seekers in Europe.
And what about Ukraine?
Germany is Ukraine’s top military supplier in Europe, the second largest after the United States. All three top contenders promise continued assistance, but there are differences in emphasis. Scholz says he wants Germany to remain the largest supplier in Europe, but praises his “prudence” in ensuring the war does not develop into a conflict between Russia and NATO. rockets to Kiev.
The Union and the Greens are more open to sending long-range missiles. The Union wants to set up a ‘contact group’ with France, Poland and Britain to discuss a strategy with the United States to support Ukraine and provide ‘credible security guarantees’.
Current polls indicate that it is likely that at least two members of the Union, the Social Democrats and the Greens, will ultimately have to govern together.
“We want to become so strong in this election … that others have to ask themselves if they are willing to work with us, and we are not the ones who have to adapt to others and run after them,” Merz said. Tuesday.
