Finance Minister Lindner warns of tough cuts

Finance Minister Lindner warns of tough cuts

Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP warns of tough cuts and emphasizes the need for Germany to tighten its belt. During a broadcast with “Maybrit Illner” he pointed out that Germany only ranks 22nd in the world in terms of competitiveness. Lindner warns that this ranking cannot maintain top performance in the areas of social benefits, ecological standards and living standards. He is pushing for measures to improve this situation.

In the discussion, CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann expressed the view that effortless prosperity was an illusion, recalling earlier warnings from former FDP party leader Guido Westerwelle. The discussion about citizens' money and the length of working hours was controversial, with criticism of populist talk and calls for tax incentives for overtime.

DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi asked the question of the number of hours overtime is defined and emphasized the inequalities that could disadvantage part-time workers, especially women. It was highlighted that tax incentives for overtime in full-time positions could lead to further discrimination against women. The discussion focused on the potential impact on working hours and the role of politics with regard to collective agreements.

The Green Party co-chair Ricarda Lang pointed out the involuntary part-time work of mothers, which is caused by a lack of child care. She emphasized that one solution could be to create more full-time positions to give women the opportunity to increase their workload. The debate at “Illner” highlighted the different views on working time arrangements and the challenges that Germany faces in terms of competitiveness and social security.