The deputy chair of the SPD faction in the Bundestag, Dagmar Schmidt, rejected the cost‑cutting proposals of CSU leader Markus Söder. “We Social Democrats will not accept that” she told the news portal T‑Online.
Söder had called for reductions in youth and integration assistance in a “Stern” interview, labeling the benefits he described as “excessive social welfare”. Schmidt replied that it is striking how the Union, when the situation becomes slightly more difficult, immediately seeks to trim the support of those already facing severe hardship. “I find it truly remarkable that the Union wants to cut the benefits of people with disabilities, and of children and youths who do not get a life on the sunny side” she said.
She added that the SPD’s recent election results have made its situation more difficult. “Times are hard for social democracy; the zeitgeist is slightly against us” Schmidt said. “Much of what defines us is simply not in demand at the moment”.
Schmidt went on to explain that the focus in politics has shifted toward emotional polarisation, enemy images and scapegoating. “For us SPD, it is incredibly hard to make a policy that gives direction and get through that” she said. She argued that this difficulty stems in part from how the media operates today, and also from the coalition partners-both within the traffic‑light coalition and with the Union.
“Even now with the Union, governing is difficult” Schmidt said. “The Union no longer follows a centrist course like it did under Angela Merkel”.