Achim Truger, a CDU economist, has leveled severe criticisms against the CDU-CSU coalition government in its first year in power. Writing in an article for “Surplus Magazin” Truger targets what he calls “reformism” within parts of the Union and its associated spheres, warning that this mindset is fundamentally problematic for both the government and German democracy as a whole.
He argues that the basis of this “reformism” rests on an incomplete diagnosis of the current crisis. Truger asserts that the idea that the crisis is merely one of general sluggishness, excessive regulation, bureaucratic paralysis, high taxes, laziness, state funding shortfalls, or high wages cannot be adequately proven.
Furthermore, he criticizes the proposed “false economic policy cures” which mostly revolve around implementing painful structural reforms. These reforms include deregulation, diminishing workers’ rights and trade unions, cutting public essential services, and especially reducing social welfare provisions-which he notes are typically coupled with tax cuts benefiting corporations and the wealthy.
According to the university professor from Duisburg-Essen, if such a policy were implemented, it would certainly fail to generate any upturn. He reasons that a simple focus on cost-cutting at the individual business level would create serious negative macroeconomic side effects, thereby deepening and prolonging the current crisis.
Beyond economic policy, Truger views the internal disputes among the governing parties as a threat to democracy. He warns that a constantly bickering and failing administration will inevitably see its approval ratings drop. In doing so, it inadvertently boosts the already prevalent political discontent, which is heavily exploited by the far-right, thereby steering democracy closer to a crisis point.