German State Premier Anke Rehlinger Exerts Pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz Ahead of Federal-State Meeting
As the federal-state meeting approaches on Wednesday, Anke Rehlinger, the premier of the German state of Saarland and a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), is urging Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to consider the concerns of the states. According to Rehlinger, the states and local governments are expecting significant losses in revenue due to the economic stimulus package proposed by the black-red coalition.
Rehlinger, speaking to the German news magazine Der Spiegel, emphasized the need for a financial compromise from the federal government, stating, “We, the states, want to agree, but we must also be able to agree.” The premier added that both the federal government and the states are working intensively to find a solution that will allow for new economic growth without overburdening local and state budgets.
The state premiers are scheduled to meet with Merz at the Chancellery in the afternoon to discuss the proposed package.