The leader of the Left party, Ines Schwerdtner, has voiced sharp criticism regarding a recent investment forum hosted at the Chancellery. She questioned the priorities reflected in regular meetings between Friedrich Merz and executives of major corporations, asserting that these events prioritize the interests of large businesses while neglecting the concerns of the wider population.
Schwerdtner expressed curiosity as to when organizations representing tenants, social welfare recipients, or environmental groups might be afforded similar platforms within the Chancellery. She further suggested that Mr. Merz demonstrates limited interest in the needs of ordinary citizens, preferring instead to engage with institutions such as Deutsche Bank and Axel Springer.
She also cast doubt on the veracity of investment pledges made by businesses following the forum, suggesting it was unclear whether these represented genuinely new commitments or simply existing plans presented under a positive light. Schwerdtner believes the initiative primarily serves to build pressure for further tax reductions, an area, she states, that Mr. Merz appears receptive to.
Not only has Mr. Merz expressed a desire to reduce corporate tax rates within the framework of an investment stimulus package, but also indicated a planned effort to abandon the global minimum tax agreement. According to Schwerdtner, this stance aligns him with figures like Donald Trump and could facilitate increased tax avoidance strategies employed by large corporations.