Norbert Walter-Borjans: "Lacks a lot" - SPD boss accuses Merkel of management failure

display

SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans has expressed clear criticism of the corona crisis management by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).

"We have a head of government who is missing a lot in the coordination in this crisis," said Walter-Borjans of the "Augsburger Allgemeine".

Right now, “those in charge of the coalition partner who are particularly challenged”, the CDU, “do not do justice” to their task, he added.

The SPD leader also criticized Federal Economics Minister Peter Altmaier and Health Minister Jens Spahn (both CDU).

"Carefully worded" is "a lot of room for improvement" in their performance in the corona pandemic.

The weaknesses of the coalition partner would have to be "ironed out" by SPD Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other SPD ministers.

SPD co-leader Saskia Esken also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the federal government in the double interview with the newspaper.

"The experience in the Corona year in particular made a fundamental need for action clear, for example: how far we are lagging behind in digitization, in network expansion, in administration, in schools," she said.

"In education, this is more than before an obstacle to equal opportunities."

display

The Social Democrats are well prepared for the election campaign.

"With the program it is now even clearer that the SPD has developed a clear plan in great unity for how our country is progressing and how we as a society stick together," said Esken.

"That makes us very confident that we will gain further approval in the coming months and that we will be able to lead a government in the fall."

When asked whether the SPD election program was a coalition offer to the Greens and the Left, Walter-Borjans said: "Our program is an expression of our conviction that the CDU and CSU need a regeneration period on the opposition bench." Without a "red-green core" the necessary change will not come about.

Tax hikes and relief for middle incomes

The day before, the SPD had presented its election program for the federal election.

After deliberations with the party executive, Scholz and the party chairmen Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans presented the “SPD's future program”.

display

The Social Democrats are betting on higher tax revenues from high incomes and wealth.

In the event of a renewed participation in the federal government, the party wants to raise the top income tax rate from the current 42 percent to an expected 45 percent.

In addition, the federal government should invest at least 50 billion euros annually, for example in climate protection and digitization.

The welfare state is to be strengthened and the minimum wage raised to twelve euros.

The SPD goes into the election campaign without a coalition statement.

The Bundestag will be elected on September 26th.

Although the party ranks third behind the Greens in polls with 15 to 17 percent, it claims the Chancellery.

It is about the possibility of "bringing about a change of government and electing a Social Democrat as Federal Chancellor," said Scholz.