The Green Party’s top candidate for the upcoming state election in Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir, has voiced concerns regarding the outcomes of a recent cabinet retreat focused on economic and competitive issues.
Özdemir, former leader of the Green Party, expressed skepticism regarding the government’s proclaimed modernization agenda, stating that it is insufficient. He emphasized the need for genuine reforms to the social security system, arguing that current measures appear to prioritize addressing problems with financial support while deferring fundamental structural challenges.
He specifically referenced Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder, noting their past emphasis on prudent fiscal policy. Özdemir criticized the utilization of a special asset fund, effectively acting as a conduit for the federal budget and warned that it risks obscuring the supplementary nature of federal investments.
The Green Party, alongside the Federal Council, previously approved plans for the infrastructure special asset fund under the condition that substantial borrowing – projected at €850 billion through 2029 – would be accompanied by a comprehensive reform agenda and future-oriented investments. Özdemir underscored that this remains a critical prerequisite for the long-term viability of the current fiscal strategy.