Britta Haßelmann, the Green Party’s faction chairwoman, has urged the ruling coalition to implement necessary reforms and has publicly questioned the leadership capabilities of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Speaking to the news portal “T-Online,” Haßelmann stated, “One must wonder if the Chancellor even possesses the capacity to solve the pressing problems facing our country.” She emphasized that citizens require immediate relief, insisting that the cost of daily living must become affordable.
Haßelmann acknowledged that the federal government recognizes the urgent need to act regarding fuel and energy prices, but she warned that the Union and SPD parties would quickly devolve into “self-interest and disputes.” She criticized the lack of a shared strategy, stating, “A common compass? Nonexistent.”
While relief measures are necessary, the Green politician stressed that these cannot substitute for fundamental reforms and strategic shifts. Looking ahead, she insisted that solutions regarding the pension system are urgently needed. She highlighted that for regions in the east, such as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt, the statutory pension remains the essential pillar of elderly life. Haßelmann called for a system that guarantees protection against old-age poverty through a stable retirement level of 48%, maintaining fairness and providing security to younger generations.
