Proposals are "not coordinated" in Germany: Lindner criticizes Scholz and Habeck

 

"The traffic light coalition is divided on economic policy. Finance Minister Lindner sees this as one of the reasons for the country's current economic difficulties.

 

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has criticized the traffic light government's approach to economic policy and has directly addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck. "No, Mr. Scholz's proposals were not coordinated and neither were Mr. Habeck's," he said on ZDF's "Heute Journal" with a view to the two's recent economic policy initiatives. "We are talking to each other, but I am not familiar with these proposals. And that is a problem in itself," criticized the FDP leader.

 

"I am now convinced that 50 percent of the problems in economic policy, the reluctance to invest and also the reluctance to consume privately, are related to politically created uncertainty." Lindner demanded that clarity be created this autumn "about the direction in which economic and financial policy is heading this country”. Otherwise, economic development will continue to suffer.

 

At the same time, Lindner said he had no intention of letting the traffic light coalition collapse prematurely. “If everyone wants to stick to the coalition agreement and its spirit, then I certainly have no intention of ending a government coalition,” said the FDP leader. He added: “But one thing is clear: if what the country needs becomes more urgent and what is politically achievable becomes smaller, then everyone has to lay their cards on the table.”

 

Chancellor Scholz announced an industrial policy offensive in the Bundestag last week. The SPD politician wants to invite company representatives, unions and associations to an industrial summit in the Chancellery to discuss ways out of the economic downturn.

 

Economics Minister Habeck (Greens) proposed on Wednesday to stimulate the economy with a debt-financed state investment and infrastructure fund. According to his ideas, companies should be reimbursed ten percent of all investments by the state.

 

 Lindner had already questioned the feasibility of Habeck’s proposal and now went even further. "I am not convinced by this," he said."