Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has publicly commended the reform efforts currently being undertaken by the current SPD party leader and Vice Chancellor, Lars Klingbeil In an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, Schröder stated that he finds Klingbeil’s approach “courageous” and expressed his respect for the Vice Chancellor He further emphasized that the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) fortunes are intrinsically linked to the overall stability of the nation, stating the SPD “does not fare well when the country is in disarray
Klingbeil had previously acknowledged Schröder’s past reforms to “Die Zeit”, noting the need for similarly bold action today to ensure the robustness and financial sustainability of Germany’s social welfare system He stressed, however, that modern reforms must be relevant to current circumstances and avoid exacerbating societal divisions
Schröder responded to Klingbeil’s comments by expressing hope for success, while also emphasizing the full responsibility that comes with initiating such changes He suggested the SPD has learned that courageous reforms, even if initially unpopular, can yield positive results and that the party remains the appropriate arena for tackling necessary overhauls Schröder further argued that proactive measures from the SPD are particularly important as the consequences of inaction disproportionately impact working citizens – historically a core constituency of the party
The comments recall the controversial “Agenda 2010” reforms, initiated by Schröder himself in March 2003 while Chancellor, designed to address economic weaknesses within the country Those reforms were met with significant resistance, particularly from within the SPD and among its traditional supporters