Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister-President, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), sharply criticized the federal government for attempting to push through a €1,000 “relief premium” without consulting the individual states.
Speaking on the ARD program “Caren Miosga” on Sunday, Schwesig labeled the maneuver “unprofessional” suggesting it exemplifies a problem the country is facing. She asserted that she had received no information about the project prior to the meeting of the Coalition Committee in Villa Borsig. She strongly criticized the approach, stating that “when you have such massive tasks, you cannot simply meet three people and think you can solve it on your own”. According to Schwesig, the plan should have involved, at minimum, a Conference of Prime Ministers, and also included labor and employer partners in the discussions beforehand.
Following the lead of her CSU colleague, Markus Söder of Bavaria, Schwesig advised the federal government to withdraw the “relief premium” proposal completely, rather than pursuing it through a debate in the Mediation Committee. Instead, she demanded a fundamental reform of the income tax system, specifically advocating for lower tax rates for people with low incomes. Schwesig concluded by stressing the overall need for a massive, comprehensive package.
