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Olaf Scholz (archive picture): "We have to do a lot to ensure that there is less poverty in old age"
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Britta Pedersen / dpa
SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz had to face sensitive questions from citizens on Tuesday evening in the ZDF program »Klartext«.
It was about a lack of progress in climate protection as well as social security, but also about gendering and of course also possible coalitions after the federal election.
Scholz pledged social reforms in the event of his election victory: "We have to do a lot to ensure that there is less poverty in old age," he said at the urging of a volunteer pensioner for more appreciation. The basic pension already contributes to this, in future a higher statutory minimum wage of twelve euros should ensure that more people in work have a higher pension entitlement in old age.
The candidate for chancellor also reaffirmed the SPD's goal of replacing the current Hartz IV system with a citizen's money that would be more fair to the people. "That has to be tackled immediately," he said, referring to the change in government he was aiming for. Above all, however, everything must be done to "ensure that someone who is dependent on help comes out as quickly as possible." To alleviate the housing shortage, he named the goal of building 400,000 new apartments per year, 100,000 of which are socially supported.
In terms of tax policy, Scholz contradicted an entrepreneur who opposed higher taxes for the wealthy and the recovery of wealth tax because that hindered investment. "There will be no scope for tax cuts," he initially opposed demands from the Union and the FDP that this was "simply unaffordable". But if - as planned by him - people with low and middle incomes should still be relieved, then "you have to make sure that those who have a lot contribute a little more," he said.
Scholz did not want to make any further commitments that the coal phase-out would be brought forward in order to achieve the climate targets. Instead, he stuck to a »2038 at the latest«, even in response to critical questions. He argued with the electricity needs of industry, especially when switching to emission-free production methods. Therefore, it is initially his ambition to make rapid progress in the expansion of renewable energies. Only when calling for a traffic turnaround did he guarantee more money for trains and buses and an effort to create more space for cyclists and pedestrians.
Many topics were only touched on briefly due to lack of time: Scholz promised a young woman from Afghanistan who asked not to forget the people there: "We mustn't do that." He assured a man from Saxony-Anhalt who resisted gender stars and the "language bans" he perceived as such that everyone should be able to speak "as he thinks it right", even with the "Gypsy schnitzel", which many people find discriminatory. .
Once again, the candidate for chancellor did not commit to the coalition issue.
However, by calling for a commitment to NATO and foreign missions by the Bundeswehr, he again set high hurdles for cooperation with the Left Party.
He also made it clear: "There will be no coalition with which the Chancellor does not agree."
ime / AFP