SPD Secretary-General Matthias Miersch criticizes the Union’s tax policy, calling it a “hot air bubble”. He told the “Handelsblatt” (Tuesday edition) that “it’s cheap populism to demand tax cuts for all, that’s just not serious”.
The Union has proposed tax cuts in its election program, which, according to economists, could lead to annual tax shortfalls of 90 to 100 billion euros. Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended Miersch against criticism, saying that he should not be too hard on Merz and that the election campaign should also sometimes get intense. Scholz had previously referred to Merz as “Fritze Merz” in the ZDF, calling him a “Tünkram” (a derogatory term for a foolish or incompetent person).
According to Miersch, the next four years will be a test not only for the future government, but also for democracy as a whole. “The challenges are great. But we must deliver so that extremists never come to power.” The election recommendation of Elon Musk for the AfD in a guest article for the “Welt am Sonntag” shows “how far right networks have advanced so far”.