Christoph Ahlhaus, the CEO of the BVMW medium-sized businesses association, is demanding that Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) exercise his powers more actively. Ahlhaus told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that if Merz fails to quickly establish a decisive and clear leadership presence upon the conclusion of the summer recess, the coalition risks disintegrating in the medium term.
Ahlhaus criticized the Chancellor for lacking a strong leadership profile, arguing that the constant, protracted debates within the coalition regarding major reform plans-such as the pension age of 63 or changes in the healthcare sector-are destroying the trust of both citizens and the economy. He stated that this lack of foresight is even more detrimental than having no ideas at all, as it overtly exposes the public to a state of unplanned indecision.
The issue of the pension plan was cited as an example of poor leadership and communication management. The former Mayor of Hamburg, now affiliated with the CDU, noted, “Looking at it plainly: given increasing life expectancy, we ultimately have to extend people’s working lives-that is a simple calculation. The only question is how to manage the politics and communicate it.”
Additionally, Ahlhaus called on the Chancellor to take a clear position concerning the debate over increased value-added tax (VAT). He asserted that raising VAT is “the most unintelligent thing” that politics could conceive of in the current climate. Consequently, Ahlhaus urged Merz to immediately halt the debate and firmly reject any increase, warning that a VAT hike would completely stifle private consumption, which is already struggling.
