Government faced with damning preliminary statements by leftist leader during meeting with Merz's administration.
The federal government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has completed its first 100 days in office, and the reviews are far from favourable. The Left Party, in particular, has delivered a highly critical assessment, accusing the Merz government of being right-wing and crisis-ridden.
The Left Party's leader, Ines Schwerdtner, has expressed her dissatisfaction with the government's performance, grading it as "at least a D." She argues that the government's policies, including the largest military build-up since Hitler, dismantling social programs, and asylum rights, and paving the way for far-right AfD influence in government, reinforce militarism and social austerity.
Schwerdtner is not alone in her criticism. According to the RTL/ntv Trendbarometer, only 29% of Germans are satisfied with Merz's work. The polls also show a decline in support for the CDU/CSU bloc, with the far-right AfD gaining ground. This signals growing public dissatisfaction with Merz's coalition after 100 days.
The government's plans for a 500 billion euro special fund for transport routes, energy networks, schools, and the climate-friendly transformation of the economy face political resistance due to Germany’s strict fiscal rules. Financially, Merz has pursued increased military spending and a large infrastructure/energy package, but these ambitions have caused coalition tensions.
Schwerdtner has criticised the government's policies, stating that relief for the broad majority is missing. She asserts that the energy tax was not reduced for everyone but only for industry, and this she calls a "gift for the rich." She also criticises the cut in corporate taxes as "gifts for the rich" for the top one percent.
Moreover, Schwerdtner questions the government's ability to manage the 500 billion euro fund over the next twelve years. She cites the current state of the railway as evidence that the funds provided by the government are not sufficient to maintain the existing infrastructure.
Steffen Meyer, the deputy government spokesman, paints a positive picture of the government's performance, stating that the federal government has initiated 118 projects in the first 100 days. However, Schwerdtner sees only one plan being implemented – the cut in corporate taxes.
Schwerdtner's comments suggest that she is not optimistic about the current government's performance. She believes the government started with a fiasco from day one and that there is no real protection against rents and prices rising. The only plan she can see being implemented is the cut in corporate taxes.
This critical assessment of Merz's government after 100 days highlights the growing public dissatisfaction with the coalition's policies and performance. The erosion of support and the rising backing for the far-right AfD reflect the wider voter discontent with Merz's first 100 days.
- The Left Party, along with the majority of Germans, has raised concerns about the Merz government's Employment Policies, earlier criticizing them for dismantling social programs, as well as questioning its Community Policy due to the government's approach towards asylum rights and the influence of far-right groups like AfD.
- The politics surrounding the Merz government's policy-and-legislation, such as the controversial 500 billion euro special fund for infrastructure and climate-friendly projects, have been met with resistance due to strict fiscal rules, further escalating the general news of public dissatisfaction with the government's performance after 100 days.
