Chancellor Merz urges reform readiness from all Germans, opposition criticizes imbalance and social cuts
In a government declaration to the Bundestag, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Germans to approach upcoming social and economic reforms with goodwill, while the opposition accused his coalition of imbalance and social cuts.
Merz’s reform appeal
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) used his government declaration in the Bundestag on Thursday to rally the country behind a sweeping reform agenda. Though the speech was officially dedicated to next week’s EU summit, Merz spent most of his time on domestic challenges. He framed the choice as binary:
orEither we shy away from changes, changes that initially also mean restrictions,
Merz said his government had chosen the latter path and waswe use the strengths and potentials we have to turn the tide for everyone and get back into a better position on all fields where necessary.
to pursue it, asking every citizen to examinefirmly resolved
even if it is simply the readiness to discuss with goodwill rather than dismiss with contempt.what he can contribute to the success of the whole,
Talks with social partners
The speech came hours after the coalition leadership met with trade union and employer representatives in the Chancellery. The gathering, meant to launch a reform process covering the labour market, social insurance, income tax and bureaucracy, produced no concrete results. Merz nonetheless praised the
and said talks would continue. The coalition aims to pass a reform package before the parliamentary summer recess in mid‑July. SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch endorsed the process but stressed the outcome must beextremely good, very constructive atmosphere
something of which everyone says that is fair.
Opposition attacks
Green group leader Britta Haßelmann ridiculed the timing of the social‑partner meeting, calling it
She accused the government of turning the wordsad that after a year you get the idea that it could take place.
intoreforms
adding thata synonym for cuts,
as the planned reductions would always hit the same groups. Left‑party co‑leader Heidi Reichinnek dismissed the Chancellery round as apeople feel ripped off,
aimed at simulating participation, while her colleague Sören Pellmann denounced a policy ofshow event
social clear‑cutting.
Business pressures
Industry associations welcomed the dialogue but urged swift decisions. BDI President Peter Leibinger said
and thatreforms must contribute to the competitiveness of Germany as a business location
ZDH President Jörg Dittrich highlighted the shared awareness of the need for deep reforms, while demandingthe coalition partners can and should now build on the talks.
VDMA chief executive Thilo Brodtmann was more sceptical, warning thata noticeable reduction in non‑wage labour costs.
and urgingthe government cannot and must not delegate responsibility for necessary reforms to third parties
political action instead of further delays.
AfD broadside
AfD leader Alice Weidel labelled Merz’s speech the
and painted a picture of a country in decline. She also attacked SPD co‑chair and Social Minister Bärbel Bas over a past remark and suggested that if the CDU/CSU does not change course,swan song of a failure
to bring the AfD to power.people will force early elections
- Koalitionsspitzen treffen Gewerkschaften und Arbeitgeber im Kanzleramt; keine konkreten Ergebnisse erzielt.
- Merz hält Regierungserklärung im Bundestag und wirbt für Reformbereitschaft.
- Bis zur Sommerpause Mitte Juli soll ein Reformpaket geschnürt werden.
