Employers are growing impatient with the black‑red government and are urging Chancellor Friedrich Merz to present a comprehensive reform package quickly, one that includes tax cuts, lower social spending and reduced bureaucracy.
Rainer Dulger, president of the Federation of German Employers’ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände, BDA), told the paper Bild that “the government must finally lay on the table a reform agenda that really earns its name”. He added that Germany remains strong only if people roll up their sleeves and that, when in doubt, the chancellor should lead decisively-“as Gerhard Schröder did during his agenda reforms”.
Dulger specifically called for less bureaucracy, a more efficient welfare state and “more net from gross”. He warned that Germany needs decisions now, lest it lose power-“it is already five after twelve”. The BDA president also cautioned the SPD against tax increases, stressing that “we need effective, job‑creating improvements, not cosmetic solutions such as more debt or higher taxes”.
