North Rhine‑Westphalia’s premier Hendrik Wüst (CDU) praised the reform speech delivered by SPD leader Lars Klingbeil at the Bertelsmann Foundation. “The proposals of SPD Finance Minister Klingbeil form a solid basis for conversations about the necessary fundamental changes in Germany” the CDU politician told “Stern”. He also cautioned his own party against immediately tearing apart the SPD leader’s ideas: “We should not tear apart individual aspects right away”.
Wüst expressed enthusiasm for Klingbeil’s remarks on reducing bureaucracy and modernising the state. “All that makes people listen” he said. “I now expect that the SPD‑led ministries will translate Klingbeil’s words into action in the coming months”. Klingbeil had earlier called for a “radical cutback of bureaucracy”.
The SPD leader also proposed a mandatory, capital‑funded company pension to ease pressure on the state pension system. Wüst warned, “The burdens on employees and employers imposed by introducing a capital‑funded company pension must be offset elsewhere, so that wages do not come under additional pressure”.
On Wednesday afternoon, in his address at the Bertelsmann Foundation, Klingbeil urged profound changes in the labour market and called for measures to make longer working life more attractive. He announced an income‑tax reform aimed at relieving 95 % of workers, while proposing that high‑income and high‑net‑worth individuals “contribute”.
The federal government plans to present its first reforms in the coming weeks. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) stated on Tuesday, following information from “Stern” during a Union caucus meeting, that all key decisions would need to be made between Easter and the summer political lull.
