Scholz plans Trump visit before vote – DW – 12/17/2024

Germany’s political parties have started presenting the draft of their election manifesto. And with Europe’s largest economy struggling, they focus on income, the economy and jobs.

DW monitors campaign platforms of major parties

A day after losing a confidence vote in parliament, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he hopes to meet US President-elect Donald Trump after he is formally sworn in on January 20, 2025.

Germany’s dpa news agency reported that Scholz “expressed a desire to meet him immediately after taking office” when the chancellor called Trump in early November to congratulate him on returning to the White House after defeating Joe Biden.

Although Germany is likely to vote on February 23 following the fall of its government, sources in Berlin told dpa that it “cannot be ruled out” that Scholze could meet Trump in DC.

Although Trump took the unusual step of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to his swearing-in ceremony, there has been no word yet on which other leaders have been asked to attend.

Neither Berlin nor Washington gave any indication that Scholz’s name was on the list of invitees.

The Greens have presented their 70-page policy draft to party members, which includes a number of social programs aimed at helping families and addressing climate change.

These include increasing fare controls, keeping public transport tickets at 49 euros for all of Germany, keeping the minimum wage at 15 euros and benefits for people struggling with skyrocketing energy prices.

Party leader Felix Banaszak stressed in the presentation, “This program is full of measures that will make this country fairer and life more affordable.”

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Green Chancellor candidate Robert Habach also attended the event.

Habach said that tackling climate change is the party’s “top priority”. To finance its ambitious climate plans, the party wants to implement a tax on billionaires, reform loan breaks and close tax loopholes for companies.

FDP leader Lindner and party secretary Marco Buschmann laid out their policy proposals at the heart of their party’s livelihood: the economy.

The business-friendly FDP said they want to reduce taxes on individual earners who make less than €96,600 ($101,400) a year, as well as lower taxes on companies and inheritances.

Changing Germany’s debt brakes, which limit the amount of money the government can borrow, is “absolutely prohibited”, the pair confirmed.

Arguments about the debt brake were central to Lindner’s disagreement with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as some economists argue that Germany’s infrastructure and industry will stagnate if it does not borrow money for modernization.

He said the FDP wanted to “completely reform” social welfare for the country’s lowest-income people.

Another aspect of the program is to limit the ability of “essential workers” to strike, such as those in the health, energy, and education sectors.

Former finance minister Christian Lindner, whose dismissal led to the collapse of Germany’s coalition in November, was the keynote speaker at the conference of his pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) on Thursday.

“The elections to be held on February 23 next year are a directional decision for our country,” he said. He warned that without implementing the economic reforms his party is suggesting, “more and more people will look for an alternative to the democratic center.”

His use of the word alternative points to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is currently in second place in most voter surveys.

Although the FDP is currently polling at just 5%, barely clearing the barrier to enter the Bundestag, Lindner delivered his remarks with the seriousness that reflects hopes his party will become kingmakers in future coalition talks.

As has been the case in the past, Lindner said he was confident that the FDP “will play an important role in the formation of the future government.”

Lindner’s open disagreements with the SPD and Green parties regarding policy, despite being the most junior member of the coalition, were at the root of Chancellor Scholz’s demand for his resignation.

During an event to announce the party’s election programme, CDU and CSU leaders criticized the current government and its premier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

CSU head Markus Söder called Scholz “Germany’s most shameful chancellor ever.”

Scholz said on television that CDU leader Friedrich Merz “likes to talk nonsense.”

Söder also criticized Germany’s Green Party for being “incompetent”, adding that Germany’s conservatives are currently unlikely to cooperate with the Greens because of their policies.

The conservative coalition of the CDU and CSU said that “business as usual is not an option.”

Germany’s conservative coalition, made up of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), voted unanimously in favor of the party’s program for the 2025 elections.

The program includes promises to reduce taxes and virtually stop illegal migration.

The party will also continue its support for Ukraine and reintroduce mandatory military service, which was previously canceled in 2011, according to a report by German news agency dpa.

Party leader and chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said he believed the conservative union “should become the guarantor of peace and freedom.”

As Germany heads towards the election, officials in Berlin fear the February 23 vote will also be the target of pro-Russian propaganda.

Media investigations have pointed to Kremlin-linked efforts to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and promote Russia-friendly views of the left-populist Sahara Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).

Germany’s Interior Ministry has set up a task force to take “necessary security measures” against any disinformation, subversion, espionage and cyber attacks.

Germany’s foreign intelligence chief Bruno Kahl warned, “Whether we like it or not, we are in direct confrontation with Moscow.”

Germany is officially going to the polls, and preparations for the debates are now underway.

It comes as the current government, led by SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz, lost a confidence vote on Monday, resulting in him calling on President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to call early elections.

Scholz is expected to face his main rival, conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz, in at least two televised debates before the election, which is expected to be held on February 23.

Public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are planning a debate on 9 February, while private broadcaster RTL will hold another debate on 16 February.

ftm/zc (dpa, Reuters, AFP)