The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is accused of deliberately misrepresenting concerns raised by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) to obstruct necessary economic reforms, according to Veronika Grimm, a leading economist and supervisory board member of Siemens Energy. In an interview with the Handelsblatt, Grimm suggested the SPD’s rapid dismissal of AfD proposals as inherently problematic serves a strategic purpose: to force the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) further into alignment with the SPD’s own policy agenda, effectively stifling potentially valuable debate.
Grimm acknowledged the cynical nature of AfD leadership, particularly Alice Weidel’s consistent criticism of government growth policies and debt management. While recognizing the political opportunism involved, she stressed that Weidel’s observations regarding economic stagnation are, “naturally, well-played – but not incorrect”. The economist warned that continued delays in implementing meaningful reforms risk perpetuating the current economic trajectory.
Adding to the friction, Grimm sharply disagreed with fellow members of the Council of Experts’ recent call for a reform of inheritance tax, specifically advocating for a reduction in exemptions for business assets. She characterized the proposal as “reckless” given the current lack of private investment and muted growth prospects. Grimm argued that such a reform, intended perhaps to address wealth inequality, could ironically further dampen economic dynamism, ultimately harming both businesses and employees. This public dissent highlights a growing division within the authority tasked with advising the government on economic policy and underscores the increasingly polarized debate surrounding Germany’s future economic stability.
