Political figures Esken and Walter-Borjans ponder fresh bid for party leadership position
German SPD Leaders Criticize CDU and CSU Economic Policies
In a series of statements, Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans, the former co-chairs of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Germany, have expressed their skepticism and concerns about the economic policies of the CDU and CSU.
Esken and Walter-Borjans, who led the SPD from December 2019 to December 2021, have been critical of the CDU and CSU's plans to reduce taxes for top earners and the wealthy. Walter-Borjans went as far as to say that the CDU and CSU want to speed up a course to ruin and pay off loans.
The SPD under their leadership has also been critical of the CDU and CSU's advocacy for a resurgence of neoliberalism. Walter-Borjans believes that such policies could lead to a loss of direction and potentially strain the relationship between the two parties.
Esken has suggested that the time of grand coalitions should end, implying that the Union may not be the ideal partner for the SPD. She has also noted that the absence of constant argument at the top of the SPD is being perceived as a relief by citizens.
Walter-Borjans, on the other hand, does not imagine working with the CDU and CSU without losing the SPD's compass. He has expressed concern that continuing the coalition with the CDU and CSU may lead to a loss of direction for the SPD.
Despite their criticisms, both Esken and Walter-Borjans have claimed to have positively influenced the SPD in their first year in office. They have also stated that the culture of cooperation within the SPD has improved under their leadership.
It is worth noting that Esken and Walter-Borjans did not run again for SPD leadership in 2021. Esken was re-elected alongside Lars Klingbeil, while Walter-Borjans was succeeded by Klingbeil as Esken's co-leader.
The SPD, under its new leadership, is preparing to potentially send the Union to the opposition benches. Apart from the AfD, the SPD is open to negotiations with all parties. However, Walter-Borjans has stated that it may be impossible to work effectively with the CDU and CSU in the next legislative period.
In conclusion, the SPD under the leadership of Esken and Walter-Borjans has been critical of the CDU and CSU's economic policies. Their comments indicate a potential strain in the relationship between the two parties, and the SPD is preparing to potentially send the Union to the opposition benches.
Other rivaling political parties have been subject to scrutiny by the SPD, particularly policy-and-legislation proposals from the CDU and CSU. The SPD's skepticism stems from concerns over proposed tax reductions for high earners and wealthy individuals, seen as potentially disproportionate and detrimental to the general-news economic landscape.
