Craftsmen’s Association President Jörg Dittrich has urged the federal government to make swift decisions. Speaking to the Funke press group, Dittrich stressed that immediate actions are required for a comprehensive reform package covering the areas of social security, taxes, and the labor market. He added that establishing a clear path forward within the coalition committee would be a victory, stating that the goal should be to move past the fragmented proposal of individual reform suggestions. Dittrich warned that systemic changes are inevitable; the core question is whether politicians will manage these changes or if they will simply happen through inaction.
The governing parties, the Union and the SPD, intend to agree on a broad reform package encompassing taxes, the labor market, pensions, and bureaucratic reduction before the summer break. This focus on a unified plan was agreed upon by the parties at the coalition committee meeting on Tuesday evening.
While acknowledging that the agreement to work through a formal process for thorough reforms is positive, Dittrich countered that this cooperation is far superior to the “hasty quick fixes” such as the recent relief premium. Nevertheless, he noted that after a full year in government, the coalition should have been significantly further along, pointing out that the deep reform needs and pressure for action were known all along.