Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to settle the dispute over basic child security in a few days. “The federal government will clarify by next week how the basic child security system will be structured in concrete terms,” said the SPD politician to the newspapers of the Bavarian media group (“Passauer Neue Presse”, “Mittelbayerische Zeitung”, “Donaukurier”).
“At the same time, Germany needs a nationwide range of crèches and day-care centers, if possible without fees. We are supporting the federal states in a federal-state program to ensure that this progresses.”
Scholz wants to avoid disputes
In the first cabinet meeting after the summer break, the dispute over basic child security escalated. Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) blocked the law for more economic growth by Finance Minister Christian Linder (FDP) because she did not yet see the financing of her child protection project secured. On Tuesday, Scholz and his 16 ministers will meet at Schloss Meseberg near Berlin for their fifth cabinet retreat.
The Chancellor considers further disputes in the traffic light coalition to be counterproductive. “I can only warn against that. The government has made many far-reaching decisions that will ensure more speed and more modernization in our country,” he said. “We should focus more on highlighting the successes of government work and having the necessary discussions about our plans internally.”
Scholz also spoke out against the impression that Germany was developing into the “sick man of Europe” due to its weak economic growth. “We mustn’t badmouth Germany as a business location. Our country continues to have good economic prospects.” Because Germany is so successful in exports, it feels a weakening of the global economy particularly strongly. “But that also applies the other way around: if the global economy picks up again, we will also benefit more,” said Scholz.
SPD leader Esken would like more serenity at the traffic lights
Before the federal government’s half-time retreat at Schloss Meseberg, SPD leader Saskia Esken also called on the traffic light coalition to be more relaxed in the event of differences of opinion. “It would be good if we could also clarify internally the questions that we need to discuss more,” she told the German Press Agency.
The arguments must also be exchanged in public, because the population must also have the opportunity to form an opinion. “But that doesn’t have to be an argument. People don’t want that and it usually doesn’t get things moving,” emphasized Esken. “So it would be nice if things were a little more relaxed after the summer break.” But it will probably not be really quiet because the coalition has big plans for the next few months.
The SPD chairwoman countered the impression that the coalition partners SPD, Greens and FDP would only argue. “In the past two years, the traffic light has decided and advanced many things without having to argue about it at length and in public. That’s why the picture of the ongoing dispute is crooked,” she said. “Most things, and most internal debates, are silent.”
Buschmann warns Paus of further delays
In the coalition dispute over the Growth Opportunities Act, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) urged Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) to give in. “In our economic situation, we cannot afford any further delays,” Buschmann warned in an interview with “Welt am Sonntag”.
However, Paus’ party colleague Robert Habeck expressly defended Buschmann: “The Economics Minister had already given the go-ahead before Ms. Paus pressed the stop button again.”
In view of the conflicts that flare up again and again between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, Buschmann basically advises the traffic light parties to abstain verbally: “I would recommend us as a coalition to complain less about each other and to work harder on problem solving,” said the justice minister. “It’s better for your own nerves and for the country as a whole.”
