Prior to a meeting of the coalition committee this Wednesday, North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) called on both the Union and the Social Democrats at the federal level to demonstrate capacity for action and to restore public trust in the state through concrete results.
Wüst stated in a podcast for the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Editorial Network Germany) that “it is at stake that people continue to lose faith in politics and in the ability of the democratic state to act.” The CDU politician argued that citizens needed to see that politics could make a difference, which required the delivery of tangible results.
The leadership of the Union and the Social Democrats will convene this Wednesday to discuss reform concepts involving pensions, healthcare, and care services. Furthermore, the agenda will include reforms concerning taxes and the labor market. Given the number of complex issues involved, it remains uncertain whether the coalition committee will finish its deliberations on Wednesday.
Wüst praised the suggestions put forth by the pensions commission as “a good package,” expressing confidence that it would be realized and thus demonstrate the government’s capacity to act. He emphasized the necessity of maintaining momentum to drive other reforms.
The Minister-President warned the federal government to keep states and municipalities in mind when making decisions, cautioning against implementing reforms at the expense of these lower levels. “Reform stagnation is ultimately expensive, especially for small and medium-income earners and for local authorities,” Wüst pointed out. He observed that all levels of government are currently operating at their financial limit. He demanded that all other levels of government must be consulted during any changes. “That is why I say, watch out concerning taxes.” States and municipalities must be included from the start to ensure things run smoothly later. “Otherwise, it will not work.”
