Merz and Söder are going into the election campaign with a distinction from the Greens

Federal election

Merz and Söder are going into the election campaign with a distinction from the Greens

Chancellor candidate Merz and CSU leader Söder demonstrate unity when presenting the joint election program. Also when it comes to the Greens. But there are still nuanced differences on the subject.

The Union is entering the federal election campaign with a clear demarcation from the Greens and a “counter-proposal” to the collapsed traffic light coalition. “The Greens are now apparently moving firmly to the left. They not only want to continue with what they have already done wrong in economic policy, but they want to make it worse,” said Union Chancellor candidate and CDU leader Friedrich Merz at a joint appearance with CSU leader Markus Söder in Berlin.

The leaders of the Union parties had previously unanimously approved the joint election program.

Merz criticized the Greens for “relying even more heavily on high taxes, high debts and high levels of redistribution through subsidies for a few.” A federal government led by the Union will not continue the policy of Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens).

If the Greens want to continue and tighten this, “then the Greens are moving away from any opportunity for cooperation that they have previously had on one issue or another. Maybe more at the beginning of the electoral period than now.” Both Merz and Söder criticized the Green Party's plans for a global billionaire tax as presumptuous. The Union will not support something like this.

When asked whether Söder wanted a clear rejection of the black-green coalition, Merz emphasized that “the democratic parties in the political center must remain able to cooperate with each other.” Söder also sees it that way. “The question of who you will then enter into a coalition with is a question of the intersections in the matter. And I say that what the Greens are currently doing, continuing and intensifying, they are moving away from what we think is right in this matter.

The CSU leader had repeatedly announced that his party would veto a coalition with the Greens, thereby severely restricting the Union's options when looking for an alliance partner.

Green candidate for chancellor Robert Habeck tried to position the Greens as a reform party. The Union, on the other hand, only has the recipes of the 90s, he said at the presentation of the Greens' election program in Berlin. He did not comment directly on the black-green debate, but emphasized similarities in support for Ukraine. This also includes the SPD and the FDP. At the Union it is no longer enough to say: “The others can’t do it, they have to go.” We’re gone now.”

According to Merz, economic policy should be the central issue in the early election planned for February 23rd. A strong economy is “the basis for everything”, including for good social, environmental and climate policy. “An end to green economic policy” is needed.

At the same time, Merz emphasized that the sister parties CDU and CSU had found “new unity”. In the 2021 election campaign, a serious rift between Söder and the then candidate for chancellor and CDU chairman Armin Laschet placed a heavy burden on the Union election campaign.

“We want to lead a government without dispute,” announced Merz. It's about a government that once again functions reliably, predictably and plannably. After three years, Ampel needed a policy change. “Continuing like this is not an option.”

The big mistake, especially of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), was that he allowed the dispute to last for months. “This has not only put the country in constant unrest, but it has also undermined its authority.” The Union faction leader asserted that he would do it differently.

The Bavarian Prime Minister said Scholz was “no longer a role model for democracy and is the most embarrassing chancellor our country has ever had.” Söder referred to Scholz’s statements on Monday evening. The Chancellor had accused Merz of spreading untruths about him: “Fritze Merz likes to tell nonsense,” said Scholz on ZDF. Tünkram is Low German and means something like stupid stuff or nonsense.

Söder now said: “Is it morally mature to denigrate names on a television show in the evening? Is the example that we would tell our children about how they should interact with others at school, is that tolerance?” He added: “It is a sign of helplessness, but also of disrespect, to make such fouls.”