As of: February 10, 2024, 5:46 p.m
By: Marcus Mäckler, Georg Anastasiadis, Mike Schier
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In the debate about economic policy, Christian Lindner is increasing the pressure on the traffic light partners.
He makes a surprising statement about SPD General Kühnert in an interview.
Munich – German companies are no longer competitive – at least in the analysis, ministers Robert Habeck (Greens) and Christian Lindner (FDP) agree.
Just: what to do?
In the interview, the finance minister increases the pressure on the coalition partners.
Lindner calls for “economic turnaround”
Munich Merkur: Mr. Lindner, BDI boss Russwurm calls the politics of the traffic light coalition “toxic”.
Do you understand what he means?
Christian Lindner: No, he meant the German energy policy, which I too have been complaining about for years.
However, his quote is out of date.
Because we have just decided on the path to a market-based energy reform – keyword electricity market design and power plant strategy.
In addition, there are reductions in income and electricity taxes.
Investments in infrastructure are at record levels.
So I see improvements for the business location.
But I still say: That's not enough.
The conditions of competition have been neglected for so long that we need an economic turnaround.
Christian Lindner (FDP), Federal Minister of Finance.
© Kira Hofmann/Imago
Bavaria's entrepreneurs describe German politics as the main location risk.
That must be troubling you terribly.
Lindner: Yes, captivating bureaucracy, a shortage of skilled workers, neglected infrastructure and excessive taxes are brakes on growth.
These deficits have been known for a long time.
We have already made progress, but the coalition must work faster and more decisively in this direction.
Habeck surprised Lindner - warning about Germany as a “highest tax country”.
Economics Minister Habeck believes that German companies are no longer competitive, you agree.
That rarely happens.
Lindner: (laughs) Robert Habeck's speech in the Bundestag was actually surprising.
It is a fact that prosperity has been distributed in Germany for more than ten years, but too little has been done to strengthen our competitiveness.
Too much bureaucracy.
An energy policy that is not consistently implemented.
Neglect of public infrastructure and digitalization.
We are a high-tax country.
We are already working on many of these points.
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But...?
Lindner: Ambition and speed must increase.
Due to the weak demand in China, the economic consequences of the Ukraine war and the increased interest rates, the weaknesses that have been known for years are becoming obvious.
The joint analysis of the situation must now result in a changed policy.
What exactly are you asking for?
Lindner: A dynamization package that includes the labor market, bureaucracy, energy and taxes.
For example, the Meseberg resolutions to reduce bureaucracy will bring the bureaucracy cost index to an all-time low.
This needs to be put into the law quickly.
But we should go further.
We can streamline the supply chain law that we inherited from the previous government.
Trouble over the FDP veto on the supply chain law: Lindner accuses the SPD and the Greens of “tactics”.
What do you have against the law?
Lindner: We don't need more bureaucracy, just less.
Labor Minister Heil has made good suggestions to reduce costs for companies.
They also oppose the EU supply chain law.
Your concerns come very late...
Lindner: No, the FDP in particular are tactically accusing the SPD and the Greens of this.
However, in November the federal government determined under what conditions it would agree.
These conditions were not met.
The supply chain directive puts a strain on companies without making any real progress for human rights and the environment.
That's why many EU states are against it.
They also brought a zero round of citizen's money into play, which Habeck rejected.
How do you want to reach agreement with the SPD and the Greens?
Lindner: Wait, I predicted that there would be a zero round because inflation was overestimated when calculating the level this year.
This will then be automatically corrected in 2025.
Apart from that, I hope that the SPD and the Greens also see that all ecological and social projects only have a chance if we return to the path of economic success.
Traffic light surprise: Lindner has “never spoken to Mr. Kühnert personally.”
But they meet with little understanding.
SPD General Kühnert finds it strange that you are coming around the corner with exonerations.
Lindner: He can only be surprised because we don't know each other.
I have never been able to speak to Mr. Kühnert personally.
Then you have to be really skeptical that the traffic light can do that.
The agreement with Habeck was quickly over again.
Lindner: The agreement between him and me lies in analyzing the situation.
We still draw different conclusions from this.
He wanted to take on billions of euros in debt to subsidize companies.
That doesn't seem to make sense to me, since the state is now paying high interest rates and subsidies only mask the symptoms.
On the other hand, I suggest that we improve the framework conditions for all companies and sectors.
Economic development without debt has a name: market economy.
If we do nothing, Germany will become poorer.
This shouldn't leave anyone cold.
Christian Lindner
Will there now be another argument that lasts for weeks and is then resolved overnight?
Lindner: You caricature the work of the FDP in the coalition.
I can live with that better than with the accusation that we don't stand up for our beliefs.
I assume that we will have everything sorted out by the time the 2025 budget is drawn up in the summer.
Debt brake easing “unreasonable”: Lindner remains firm
Top economists are calling for the debt brake to be relaxed.
Would you consider this if the SPD and Greens approached you elsewhere?
Lindner: In order to achieve what is economically sensible, should I, on the other hand, do what is economically unreasonable?
That can't make sense.
My oath of office does not allow such horse-trading.
We pay high interest on the debts of the past, almost 40 billion euros a year.
We can finance investments and relief if we focus on the expenditure side.
With courage, it would even be possible to abolish the solidarity surcharge in order to relieve the burden on companies in global competition.
We don't have a revenue problem that we have to solve by increasing taxes or reducing the debt brake.
What if, despite all your efforts, you can't come to a common denominator?
Lindner: If we do nothing, Germany will become poorer.
This shouldn't leave anyone cold.
It is inconceivable that nothing will follow from the joint assessment of the situation by the economics and finance ministers.
Doesn't the question of the existence of the traffic light arise at some point?
Lindner: I too am impatient about this and dissatisfied with the public image.
But in the end, the results in the legal gazette are correct, even if getting there takes an extraordinary amount of effort in this constellation.
As long as that is the case, a country cannot be plunged into chaos.
I hope that we can continue to find viable solutions.
Lindner rejects criticism of the traffic light chaos: “We have taken over shambles”
We already have chaos because of the constant argument at the traffic lights.
Would new elections no longer serve the country?
Lindner: No, despite all self-criticism, I reject the word chaos.
We have taken over shambles in asylum and energy policy.
That was a mess that we are trying to clean up.
The new realpolitik on immigration, for example, is a real turning point that combines cosmopolitanism with control.
Interview: Mike Schier, Georg Anastasiadis and Marcus Mäckler