Ines Schwerdtner, the leader of Die Linke, has called for a complete halt to the reform plans pushed by the CDU and SPD coalition following a meeting of the Coalition Committee. Speaking on RTL and ntv’s “Frühstart,” Schwerdtner stated, “It’s not so much about the pace of this social austerity strike as it is about it being truly stopped.”
The left-wing politician views the coalition as deeply fractured. “It is completely clear that the CDU and SPD do not agree on this,” she commented, adding that it remains uncertain whether the budget will even be finalized.
Schwerdtner argued that those who claim delays are a detriment are misguided. “It’s unacceptable that the coalition allows so much time, but more importantly, that the working people and the poor in Germany have to pay for the fact that this federal government cannot manage these reforms,” she said. While acknowledging the necessity of reforms, she insists they must be implemented with a different distribution of responsibility. “Yes, we need reforms. But that means the stronger shoulders must pay more; that everyone must contribute to social insurance funds, pensions, and care.” She concluded by criticizing the government’s slow progress, stating, “But above all, it is draining the people in this country.”
The Coalition Committee concluded its night session without a press conference. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had previously indicated that not everything would be achievable until Christmas.
