Union leader Michael Vassiliadis has sharply critiqued the German federal government, specifically addressing Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), for what he considers poor communication. Speaking to the publication “Der Spiegel”, Vassiliadis warned the Chancellor, urging the government to stop being vague and confusing. According to the chief of the influential industrial union IGBCE (Mining, Chemical, Energy), the government must explain its planned reforms in a much clearer manner. He suggested that if the people were better informed, their willingness to participate in necessary changes would increase, reminding critics that the public “is not foolish” and understands that change is necessary.
Vassiliadis expects Merz to take cues from successful predecessors when attempting to persuade the populace. Drawing a parallel to the era of Gerhard Schröder, he noted that the former Chancellor had successfully managed the implementation of Agenda 2010 with a factually sound justification: reducing unemployment from 5.5 million. Such a painful process required strong leadership. He stated that, just as Schröder did, the Union, in its role as the leading party, must now display significant strength and leadership.
He reiterated that Merz, in collaboration with trade unions, associations, and other stakeholders, must establish an overarching, positive narrative for the future of Germany and its economy. “We must develop an idea of what our future can look like” Vassiliadis asserted. “For this, I must offer the people more than just a vision that we will have numerous wind turbines and that all future issues are comprehensively addressed”.
While acknowledging that the debate surrounding the current reform proposals is necessary, Vassiliadis argued that it is being poorly framed. He criticized the coalition for prioritizing political maneuvering over governance, noting that instead of clearly explaining the need for reform, government members tend to dwell on trivial subjects, such as lifestyle-based part-time work or the Chancellor complaining that people are too often sick.
Finally, regarding the draft healthcare reform, the trade unionist argued that more creative solutions are needed to save costs before individual contributors are burdened. He proposed that the government could consider abolishing the value-added tax (VAT) on medicines. He added that such a change would benefit not only the health insurance funds but also long-term patients who frequently bear the cost of their own medication.