Franziska Brantner, the leader of the Greens, sharply criticized Jens Spahn, the CDU parliamentary group leader, for proposing that tax reform should be financed through indiscriminate cuts to subsidies and tax breaks. Speaking to the broadcaster “Welt” on Tuesday, Brantner stated that prioritizing resources is fundamentally a task for the government, adding that the current administration was clearly failing at this. She criticized the suggested cuts as merely arbitrary, stating that such proposals were a “sign of desperation”.
Brantner emphasized that the coalition’s main responsibility must be to set priorities and streamline policy. Ahead of the coalition committee meeting, she urged all coalition members to end their disputes and develop a comprehensive reform agenda. She argued that the focus must now be on uniting and designing reform packages that genuinely require contributions from all parties.
According to Brantner, the coalition must direct its attention toward the needs of the nation, rather than prioritizing the individual interests of the SPD or CDU. She concluded with a strong demand that the governing parties “take a step away from the abyss, and do so together”.
