The Chancellor took his reform message straight to the lion’s den – the conference of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), writes DW’s chief political editor Michaela Küfner.
And things happened exactly as expected: from cold to hot.
“Everyone has to give something, and in return, we will get much” – this was a message no one here wanted to hear, let alone “share the burden” as the Chancellor had urged.
There were whistles, as well as some boos and chants of “Tax the rich!” Slogans were also being raised.
Merz remained composed and explained – intermittently muttering – why Germany’s prosperity urgently required greater economic growth in the near future – growth which, in his view, necessarily required some degree of sacrifice.
Merz refused to budge. He vowed to continue to compromise – even in the face of resistance – on health care, pension and tax reforms designed to remain in effect “for a decade.”
DGB Chairperson Yasmin Fahimi took the opportunity to remind the audience that the DGB had established its own Pension Commission after the federal government was denied access to the commission. This was a serious issue.
The same evening earlier, in the unions’ conference hotel, Social Democrat (SPD) vice-chairman Lars Klingbiel had already received a stark reminder that “the SPD emerged from the labor movement, not the other way around.”
The chancellor’s coalition partner, the SPD, is under intense pressure to present counterproposals to Merz’s reform plans.
Whether this deep-rooted and carefully nurtured class hostility turns out to be mere political theater – or completely derails this government’s reform agenda – will be judged not by the noise it creates, but by the concrete results it ultimately delivers. A proposal regarding pension reform is expected to come before the summer vacation.