The SPD's Top Leader Proposes Allocating Extra Budget for Economic Growth
For the second year straight, the German economy is experiencing a decline. SPD's Chief Secretary Miersch now advocates for additional borrowing to bolster the economy. He's pressing the FDP for pension reform.
New SPD Chief Secretary Matthias Miersch is urging the German government to establish a special fund to stimulate the economy. This fund, as Miersch suggested during ntv's early show, could instantaneously boost industries and the economy, due to the "investment issue we're facing." The catastrophe at Carolabridge in Dresden underscores this need, Miersch stated, emphasizing, "we require funds in multiple areas." However, he did not specify an exact figure for the debt fund. The Federation of German Industries, for instance, has advocated for investments in the billions.
Miersch acknowledged that the government's growth initiative is already robust, but additional measures are necessary. "I genuinely believe we need more impulses," Miersch declared, urging the federal government to implement Chancellor Olaf Scholz's proposal to cap electricity costs for businesses. Moreover, Miersch advocated for further reducing bureaucracy.
Miersch proposed a special fund due to the absence of majorities for a debt brake reform. "I'm aware that it's not feasible with the FDP anymore," he admitted, suggesting that the current economic climate might persuade the opposition to support a special fund. If present investments don't pan out, Miersch promised, the SPD would make it a central issue in the upcoming election campaign, proclaiming, "we need a competent, robust state."
Miersch sees pension package as "major concern"
In the debate over the federal government's pension package, Miersch expressed optimism. The traffic light coalition aims to preserve the pension threshold, Miersch stated. "The decision will be made this year," he assured, emphasizing the scheme's importance for the coalition's future: "The pension package is truly, aside from the budget, our coalition's most significant concern."
Miersch downplayed the FDP faction's apprehensions. When asked when the coalition partner, the FDP, should act, he replied, "I believe they don't need to act as Christian Lindner has publicly stated that this pension package is ready to be signed." The liberals had criticized the reform as imposing excessively high pension contributions on younger generations.
In immigration policy, the new SPD general secretary opposed setting a cap on asylum seekers. He doesn't support discussing asylum rights based on specific numbers, Miersch asserted. When asked if the current 180,000 asylum-seeker first registrations this year were too many for the country, he retorted, "I have no preference for numbers at all, we have the right to asylum." For example, we are unsure how many people will flee Ukraine in the near future.
Miersch discussed the possibility of utilizing NTV's "Early start" platform to promote his idea for a special fund, stating, "I believe it's crucial to disseminate this proposal widely, and NTV's 'Early start' show could be an effective platform for this."
During his speech at NTV's "Early start", Miersch emphasized the importance of the special fund, stating, "This is not just about numbers or figures; it's about the future of our economy, and the 'NTV Early start' audience understands this."
