Steinbrück calls on Germans to work more - and criticizes Merkel

WELT Steinbrück calls on Germans to work more - and criticizes Merkel 8 hours • 3 minutes reading time 32-hour week with full wage compensation is not possible: former finance minister Peer Steinbrück believes that Germans have a duty to work more again if the high level of social benefits is to be maintained. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has made things too easy for Germans. These are now unusual words for a Social Democrat: former finance minister Peer Steinbrück (SPD) complains that the "concept of performance" and a "sense of the common good" have fallen behind in Germany. "Not a few people apparently believe that the high level of our prosperity - not for everyone, but for most - and of our welfare state is guaranteed without effort, and that politics is essentially responsible for this," Steinbrück told the "Tagesspiegel". In the interview, the SPD politician demanded that Germans as a whole should work more. "Not every individual, but as an economy as a whole, we need to work more and increase our productivity. A 32-hour week with full pay compensation is unlikely to meet the challenges.” If the high level of the welfare state is to remain affordable, “the activation of work” is necessary. Steinbrück accused former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) of not having sworn the Germans to necessary changes. Her style of government was aimed at avoiding conflict and not alarming the Germans. “She was therefore the ideal projection surface for a widespread mentality according to which the Germans would like to settle comfortably in a permanent present. Merkel fed this attitude,” said Steinbrück. Steinbrück does not expect any self-criticism from Merkel’s memoirs, which are scheduled for publication in November. "No, I don't expect that," he said in response to a question on the subject: "That would not correspond to their style and self-image, as their already sparing words on Putin and Russia's attack on Ukraine have shown." Steinbrück against further subsidies Steinbrück rejects further subsidies such as a "scrappage bonus" or a 1,000 euro bonus for people who are willing to work and who receive a citizen's allowance - derided as the so-called "ass-up bonus". "I am bothered by the activism with which subsidies are being proposed," he said. "Instead of reflexively announcing new subsidies to patch up the structural problems of individual industrial companies or entire sectors, politicians should first clarify: What should Germany's competitive industrial model look like in the future?" said Steinbrück: "Such a strategy debate is lacking." The parties of the democratic center suffer from "a fear of description," said the former NRW Prime Minister. "They explain the general political and economic situation and its effects on Germany inadequately at best. For fear of driving voters into the wrong arms, unavoidable challenges and structural deficits are not adequately addressed.” This fear of description extends to issues such as “defense capability, the accuracy of social benefits, a secure and competitive energy supply, demographic pressure on the social system or the strained public finances with foreseeable increasing distribution problems.” Steinbrück said that this vacuum was then filled by “populists with absurd security policy ideas or the appeal to inertia that we do not need to change or even make an effort. This is paralyzing the country.” “Grand coalition is the best of all conceivable variants” With a view to the next federal election, Steinbrück said that he considered it almost impossible that Boris Pistorius would run for the SPD instead of Olaf Scholz. “I bet he will not be the SPD’s candidate for chancellor,” said Steinbrück. "To deny a sitting chancellor a candidacy - that would be a first, not to say a stunner." Steinbrück was the SPD's candidate for chancellor in 2013, but lost to Merkel. The former finance minister spoke out in favor of a grand coalition after the election. "If a majority of the SPD and the Union emerge, I would consider this to be the best of all conceivable options, provided that such a grand coalition agrees on an Agenda 2030 and gives the country renewed confidence and trust in the future." He sees enough common ground between the Union and the SPD to ensure a strong economy with a competitive industry, a defense-capable armed forces, a more efficient welfare state, climate protection, necessary immigration and incentives for successful integration.