DW — German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s challenger in upcoming elections, Social Democratic leader Martin Schulz, has called for Germany to use its budget surplus on infrastructure investment and strengthening the European Union.
Schulz unveiled a 10-point “Future plan for a modern Germany” on Sunday in a bid to boost the Social Democrats’ lackluster performance in the polls against Merkel’s Christian Democrats ahead of September 24 national elections.
“Germany can do more,” Schulz told SPD delegates in Berlin. “There are those who wait for the future. We want to shape the future.”
Under Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany has been accused of running up budget and trade surpluses, investing and spending too little at home, and stifling growth across the EU.
Merkel meanwhile reacted to Schulz’ open appeal to increase public investment, rejecting her challenger’s criticism that she was neglecting the country’s infrastructure. The chancellor claimed that the main problem was not lack of funds but the long planning process.
“We currently cannot spend the money that we have,” she said, highlighting bottleneck situations in planning in the construction industry as well as at the level of regional authorities.
Domestically, Schulz urged the state to spend more on faster internet connections, roads and rail, renewable energy and education. Although there is a legally binding budget ceiling, there is no mandate on how the surplus is spent.
Germany should invest more in the EU and its institutions because it is good for the country and will garner more solidarity within the bloc on issues Germany cares about, Schulz said.
He argued for the creation of greater German financial contributions to the bloc’s budget, to which it contributes 15 billion euros after paybacks into Germany are calculated.
Schulz hinted that he would use Germany’s financial clout to push solidarity within the EU, particularly on issues such as taxes, migration, security and defense.
“Solidarity is not a one-way street. Those who categorically refuse the reception of refugees or engage in tax dumping or ruinous tax competition are lacking in solidarity,” he said, threatening fiscal consequences for eastern European states that are balking at taking in refugees and migrants according to an EU redistribution scheme.
He also supported the idea of an EU finance minister.
After running practically neck and neck with Merkel’s CDU, the SPD has stumbled to almost 20 percent behind Merkel’s conservatives. The party, which is the junior coalition partner with the CDU, has often struggled to find major policy platforms and issues that separate it from Merkel, who is viewed by many as a steady and reliable hand after 12 years in office.
