With his statements about the minimum wage, CDU boss Friedrich Merz has triggered an avalanche of reactions. Criticism comes mainly from the opposition.
Berlin – Even before the Union and SPD officially took over the government business, the coalition agreement is discussed. This was caused by a statement by CDU boss Friedrich Merz, who expressed doubts about the increase in the minimum wage to 15 euros. Merz is not certain whether this increase was possible by 2026. The opposition criticizes the statements of the likely Bald Chancellor. SPD and Union try to limit damage.
Merz statement about minimum wage in the coalition agreement: “I don’t have any good”
The hesitant statements by Merz to increase the minimum wage make the opposition doubt about the future of black and red. “I have no idea how a future chancellor will make difficult decisions if he can get to his knees before lobby interests and prefer to use them than to relieve the middle of society,” said the green co-boss Franziska Brantner der Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ).
“Even before the members and the bodies of the parties are interviewed about the coalition agreement, leading people from the Union and SPD are already publicly questioning what is agreed,” said the green co-faction leader Britta Haßelmann SZ. Left-wing parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek criticized, by many “spongy formulations in the coalition agreement”, only arose “space for interpretations”. For the SPD, the minimum wage was great success in the negotiations – Merz now falces his coalition partner “brutally in his back”.
SPD rightly right Merz statement on the minimum wage: “It remains”
It is still clear to the SPD that the 15-euro minimum wage is coming. “Merz said we both go out of 15 euros. And it remains for us as a SPD,” said SPD general secretary Matthias Miersch der Media group Bavaria on Monday. “We have already shown in other constellations that we are standing in our words and our promise,” he added.
“We consider the 15 euros to be reached. (…) If the minimum wage commission adheres to all the criteria that are now also in the rules of procedure, then we will reach the 15 euros in 2026,” said SPD boss Lars Klingbeil in the ARD “Report from Berlin”.
Criticism according to Merz statement by SPD wing: “Necessary structure of trust”
The left wing of the SPD called for a clarification of Merz. “The coalition agreement in the central points for us, such as the increase in the minimum wage, to be questioned openly a few days after the publication, does not help at this point at all with the urgently needed building,” said Tim Klüssendorf, spokesman for the parliamentary left in the SPD parliamentary group, the star on Monday.
CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann said on Sunday in the “Report from Berlin” of the ARD that the coalition agreement did not set the amount. The contract leaves the negotiations on the minimum wage the responsibility of the minimum wage commission. “It is not done in the German Bundestag. And so we have agreed and that’s why we should be more relaxed at this point,” said Linnemann. (VK with agencies)
