Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther has called for a change to substantive policy from the federal government. “Although we are experiencing such challenging times, the government is not pulling together at all,” said the CDU politician to the German Press Agency.
“Every decision in Berlin is immediately questioned by at least one of the coalition partners, as can currently be seen with the budget agreement. The focus is only on the party’s own profile and clientele.” The common goal is not the focus. “I have never experienced anything like that before,” said Günther.
Numerous crises
The multiple crises such as the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine or the ongoing migration movement made the whole thing even more difficult. “I think acting like this in such an exceptional situation is irresponsible.” This leads to a loss of trust among people in politics.
Günther cited the first draft of the Heating Act as an example. Many people were deeply worried. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had his own party in mind rather than the population when drafting the first draft of the law. “This has led to considerable disillusionment with politics.”
“I held back criticism in the first year and a half of the traffic light coalition,” Günther told the German Press Agency. “Regardless of the current crises, which do not make governing easy at the moment, a government must get into normal working mode at some point.” It is currently not visible.
Günther: Scholz has to take on leadership roles
But the question of new elections does not arise for him, said Günther. The federal government has to do its job, that’s what it was elected for. The SPD, Greens and FDP consciously decided to form a coalition and promised people that they would make the best of it for the country. “They still have almost two years to do this before the next federal election and I expect that they will make better use of the years than the last two years.”
“Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) must fulfill his leadership duties,” said Günther. However, the focus is not on a question of trust in the Bundestag. “That would ignore the fact that the Chancellor first has to regain the people’s trust. The surveys clearly show that people currently have little trust.” Scholz must explain government policy better and ensure that the coalition partners pull together.
