"Electoral Favors: Focus on Individual Gifts Over Universal Prosperity (After 100 Days of Merz)"
In the first 100 days of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, the administration has faced a series of setbacks and internal disagreements, leading to public disillusionment and rising support for the far-right AfD.
The root of the problems lies in the conflicting priorities within the coalition between Merz's CDU/CSU and the SPD. This has resulted in broken promises, coalition chaos, and a focus on short-term political gestures over long-term investment.
Regarding budget priorities, a key promise to channel off-budget "special funds" into investments aimed at growth and modernization has been broken. Instead, these funds have been diverted towards politically popular but economically less productive "election gifts," such as additional pension credits for parents and VAT relief for the food sector.
In terms of fossil fuel subsidies and climate goals, the government has shown ambivalence and retreat. Despite Merz's campaign promises of cheaper energy and economic growth, the ruling out of reconsidering nuclear energy has left industries uncertain and undermined energy transition efforts.
The government's handling of infrastructure investments reflects missed opportunities despite large available funds. The coalition has prioritized short-term political gestures over smart, long-term infrastructure projects critical for Germany’s future economic competitiveness.
Coalition chaos is evident in ongoing quarrels over judicial appointments, disagreements on migration and security policies, and budget management. The fragile alliance between CDU/CSU and SPD has led to deadlocks, complicating coherent policy responses.
Efforts to tighten migration policies have been blocked by the SPD and courts, while budget gaps exceeding 170 billion euros loom. The draft budget includes expenses such as mother's pension and VAT relief in the catering industry, yet only 5 billion euros are now additionally allocated for road and rail infrastructure in the budget draft.
The Merz government's approach to climate and energy policies has been criticized for maintaining subsidies for fossil energies, further fueling the climate crisis. The state-controlled construction of gas power plants will drive up electricity prices on the exchange and prevent the savings effects of cheap renewable energies from reaching the people.
Economy Minister Reiche is questioning the climate goals, while the majority of people are fighting the impacts of climate change in their daily lives. The announced abolition of the electricity tax is not being carried out, and 3.4 billion euros from the climate and transformation fund are to be misused for subsidizing the gas price.
The first 100 days of Merz's government have been marked by broken promises and coalition chaos. Critics argue that the government is more a "fearful protector of the status quo" than a reform-minded administration, cementing a dilapidated welfare system and accruing new debt without stimulating the economy properly.
As Merz's government grapples with these challenges, it faces the task of delivering on its mandate for economic revival and providing a sustainable future for Germany.
- The economic and social policy of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government has been criticized for maintaining subsidies for fossil energies, which critics argue is a contributing factor to the ongoing climate crisis.
- In the realm of science and environmental-science, the Merz administration's approach to climate and energy policies has been under scrutiny, with concerns about the misuse of funds from the climate and transformation fund for subsidizing gas prices.
- Amidst general-news reports of the first 100 days of Chancellor Merz's government marked by broken promises and coalition chaos, the government faces the pressing task of delivering on its mandate for economic revival and providing a sustainable future for Germany, while navigating the complexities of policy-and-legislation and the challenges posed by politics.
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