SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch is defending the “black-red” coalition’s reforms and urging his own party toward unity, according to a letter he sent to SPD members of the Bundestag. In this communication, Miersch highlighted several approved changes, including planned reductions in healthcare costs. He acknowledged the difficulty of the task, stating that while achieving €18 billion in savings within the statutory health insurance system is not easy, it does not leave them indifferent, even as they recognize that “there are always people behind these figures in the federal budget.”
He issued a strong warning against those who wish to abolish the social state. Miersch asserted that such people need only abandon their responsibilities and allow contributions to rise until they become crushing for the populace, at which point privatization would suddenly become a perceived rescue.
Addressing the substantial challenges facing Germany, the SPD leader continued that many citizens are rightly feeling uncertain. He emphasized that a core duty of the party is to provide them with security and demonstrate that the effort is worthwhile, outlining what awaits them once the current difficulties are successfully managed.
In his view, the coalition has made “considerable strides” in recent months. These successes include the implementation of the new military service requirement, the “construction turbo” program designed to boost affordable housing, the wage loyalty act, the social component of the electric vehicle program, the healthcare reform, and the outcomes of the social and pension commissions. He remarked that “these are achievements that few had dared to expect.”
However, Miersch cautioned both the Union and the SPD against dismantling key points of the reform package. He stressed that reform planks are not a construction site from which each party can take only what suits its political stance. Using the analogy of a micro-game, he explained that “each piece holds the others in their place.” He warned that attempting to pull out individual elements simply because they do not fit local party interests risks destabilizing the entire framework, a risk they are unwilling to take.
Miersch also included an element of self-criticism in his letter. He acknowledged that given the current budgetary situation and demographic trends, certain burdens are unavoidable. He felt it was incumbent upon them to be honest with the citizens, insisting that while austerity measures are necessary, they must be distributed fairly. His guiding principle was that those who possess more must bear a greater share.
Finally, facing growing divisions within the coalition and the increasing influence of the AfD, Miersch appealed to the conscience of his SPD colleagues. He noted that political effectiveness during a crisis lies in the ability to compromise. The SPD leader warned that anyone who refuses agreements within a coalition leads to stagnation, potentially allowing the social state to deteriorate and, should the democratic center fail, leaving the country exposed to extremist forces. Despite the difficulty of the topic for both sides, he concluded that compromise remains the essential tool for constructive politics.
