Schwesig criticized Merz after the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and called for federal-state consultations

After the state elections last Sunday in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Prime Minister there, Manuela Schwesig, did not skimp on criticism and pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the federal government. In view of the disastrous performance of the CDU on election evening, the SPD politicians would also expect more self-criticism from the Federal Chancellor. And above all, the realization that “business as usual” simply doesn’t work.

But Merz made it clear shortly after the election that he was sticking to this motto, which Schwesig criticized in the ARD morning magazine.

A quick look back: Shortly after the forecasts for the election outcome in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the election for the House of Representatives in Berlin became known, Merz appeared in front of the press on Sunday. It was already clear at this point that the CDU in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was threatened with its worst result since the founding of the Federal Republic. Over the course of the evening it became clear: the Christian Democrats would even miss out on re-entering the Schwerin state parliament. In this situation, Merz said he wanted to "take responsibility" - by continuing the reform course of the black-red coalition.

“People perceive reforms as unfair”

But this course does not correspond to the opinion of the local people, warned Schwesig. More than 80 percent of the population in Germany consider the reforms to be unfair. This was also reflected in the Chancellor's approval ratings, which had fallen to a record low. “He has to ask himself critically what is not going right,” demanded the Prime Minister.

It was also not enough for their SPD to win the election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. But the party is celebrating the "catch-up" it has achieved: within a year, the SPD was able to increase its poll numbers from 19 percent to an election result of 35.5 percent - and that above all thanks to an election campaign that was heavily focused on Schwesig's personality.

Schwesig is pushing for federal-state consultations

Schwesig doesn't deny the need for reforms, on the contrary: "I don't want labor costs to continue to rise either." And of course we have to check where there are savings opportunities in the system. The pension commission set up by the federal government has presented good suggestions for this. “Reforms are needed. But all that is on the table are cuts,” she criticized. But for them, reforms meant “going into the structure” and really changing something.

Schwesig now expects Chancellor Merz to promptly invite further discussions about the reforms, in which the state prime ministers will also be involved. After all, they have responsibility for their respective federal state - "regardless of their party affiliation", emphasized Schwesig. And several state leaders - both in the East and in the West, both from the ranks of the CDU and the SPD - have already joined in her criticism of the existing reform course.

From fuel discounts - a “raging topic” for people

Schwesig had already made it clear again and again in the past few weeks what was immediately off the table for her: the end of the pension without deductions after 45 years of contributions. Because it is “unfair to burden those who have contributed to the system the longest,” warned the SPD politician. And it showed: Anyone who starts working or training at the age of 16 will work significantly longer than most employees.

And Schwesig made it clear again in the ARD morning magazine that he definitely wouldn't have heard of it: the fuel discount. This was valid from May to the end of June in order to provide relief to consumers in view of the massive increase in fuel prices as a result of the Iran war. The fact that the discount then expired was a “mistake” for Schwesig. And for many people in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania it is a real “raging topic”. And a reason why many AfD were elected.

Now the fuel discount should come back from October if the Bundestag and Bundesrat agree. But given the AfD's electoral successes in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, that comes too late, says Schwesig.