Seventy days into the tenure of Friedrich Merz, leading figures within the Green Party are delivering a critical assessment of his government’s performance. Felix Banaszak and Franziska Brantner, co-chairs of the Greens, expressed concerns regarding the direction and delivery of policy.
Banaszak stated to the Tagesspiegel, “Seventy days of the Merz government have made one thing clear: a social perspective is completely absent”. Brantner echoed this sentiment, observing, “Seventy days of the Merz government – and the economy is still waiting for a genuine signal of progress.
Following his election as Chancellor in early May, Merz announced an intention to rapidly improve the national mood, stating his government would aim to demonstrate successes well before the traditional 100-day marker.
The Green Party leadership believes this pledge has not been fulfilled. They cite the failure to reduce the electricity tax for household consumers, the postponement of pension reforms and the potential for a broken promise regarding the minimum wage.
Beyond specific policy areas, Banaszak criticized a perceived shift in societal approach. He articulated concerns about a lack of progress and a divisive “culture war” pointing to measures making naturalization more difficult, halting family reunification processes and dismissing symbols of diversity.
Brantner focused on economic policy, alleging a pivot towards outdated practices. “Instead of steering the economy into the 21st century, the course is being cemented with the past of fossil fuels” she said, referencing recent approvals for natural gas drilling and subsidies for agricultural diesel. She concluded, “Germany needs a government that invests boldly in the future. Instead, we are getting fossil nostalgia, planlessness and broken promises”.