Dispute at the traffic lights: Lindner demands a decision on the direction of the traffic lights

In the struggle to find a way out of the economic downturn and the right financial policy, the traffic light government is struggling. Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner criticized on ZDF that recent economic policy initiatives by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had not been coordinated. The FDP leader called for a decision on the direction this fall – and warned on ARD that it would become clear “whether we can come together as a coalition.”

“No, Mr. Scholz’s suggestions were not coordinated and neither were Mr. Habeck’s,” said Lindner on ZDF’s “Heute Journal.” “We talk to each other, but I don’t know about these proposals. And that in itself is a problem.”

He is 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 called for clarity to be created this fall “in which direction this country is heading in terms of economic and financial policy.” Otherwise economic development would be further damaged.

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 talk about ways out of the economic downturn.

Lindner deals against Habeck: “conceptual helplessness”

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 receive ten percent of all investments reimbursed by the state.

Lindner had already questioned the feasibility of Habeck’s proposal and now followed up. “I’m not convinced by that,” he said. “After we saw that subsidies at Intel had no effect, the failure at Intel should now be followed by Intel squared.” For him, this is a “sign of conceptual helplessness.” The federal government had promised billions in funding for an Intel chip factory in Magdeburg, but construction has now been postponed.

With a view to the latest tax estimates and the difficult preparation of the federal budget for 2025, Lindner said: “Financial policy cannot repair what economic policy fails to do.” The FDP leader is insisting on savings in the federal budget for the coming year – he had suggested cuts in citizens’ money, to which Scholz reacted coolly. The Greens and the SPD, on the other hand, have not given up hope of making an exception to the debt brake or setting up debt-financed special funds outside the budget.

“No intentions to end the coalition” – on one condition

Both Lindner, Scholz and Habeck are not currently in Germany – Lindner gave the interviews from Washington, the Chancellor and his deputy are taking part in German-Indian government consultations in New Delhi today.

In recent months there has been repeated speculation about an early end to the coalition due to the many disputes between the traffic light parties. On ZDF, the finance minister countered the impression that he sounded like an opposition figure. “If everyone wants to stick to the coalition agreement and its spirit, then I have no intention of ending a government coalition.” The specific points he mentioned included “no tax increases, solid financial policy, relief for citizens, record investments in infrastructure.”

But one thing is clear: “If what the country needs becomes more urgent and what is politically achievable is smaller, everyone has to lay their cards on the table.” In the ARD “Tagesthemen,” the finance minister said that they would have to talk to each other after his return. “Are our similarities so great that we can solve the country’s problems? I hope so.”

Scholz to traffic light partners: Don’t hit the bushes

Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged difficulties in the traffic lights, but called on the coalition partners to continue working until the end of the electoral period. Anyone who has been given a mandate to govern by the citizens must fulfill their tasks, said the SPD politician in the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner” broadcast on Thursday evening. That is a duty. “And no one should just fall into the bushes. That’s certainly not my style.”

He doesn’t want to beat around it: “From my point of view, it’s sometimes very difficult to get through all the many disputes and do everything to ensure that good results come out of them.”