Tensions are escalating as the federal election approaches, with Green candidate Robert Habeck accusing the Union of misleading voters. Polls show the Greens stable at 14%, while the Union leads at 31%. Habeck criticizes the Union’s tax relief claims and advocates for family financial support, pension fund stabilization, and fair taxation on capital gains. He emphasizes the need for democratic parties to engage in coalition-building and addresses international challenges, including relations with Trump and defense spending.
Election Campaign Tensions Rise
With just six weeks until the federal election, the political atmosphere is intensifying. Green candidate Robert Habeck has accused the Union of engaging in “gross voter deception” during their campaign efforts. In a recent appearance on “Report from Berlin,” he cautioned that it is crucial for democratic parties to maintain their ability to form coalitions.
Poll Insights and Party Strategies
According to the ARD-DeutschlandTrend’s Sunday question, the Greens have remained steady at 14 percent since November, with Habeck enjoying a notable satisfaction rating of 28 percent, a significant rise from 20 percent last October. This places him at the top of the candidate rankings.
The Greens’ approval ratings, ranging from 12 to 15 percent, suggest a strategic focus on securing a role in the next government, potentially in coalition with the Union, which currently leads the polls at 31 percent. However, the election campaign has seen both sides exchanging sharp criticisms. CSU leader Markus Söder has voiced his opposition to a federal coalition with the Greens, while Habeck has also taken aim at the CDU and CSU for their campaign tactics.
Habeck asserted in the “Report from Berlin” that the Union is misleading voters with unsubstantiated tax relief proposals and ineffective responses to critical issues, stating, “The Union is fooling the population.”
The Greens are promoting their campaign with promises of increased financial support for families, aiming to relieve household budgets by approximately 1,000 euros per year. Similar to the FDP’s approach, they propose leveraging capital markets to stabilize the pension fund and mitigate rising contributions.
Additionally, Habeck emphasized the need to adjust the contribution base for health insurance to include capital income, arguing, “Why should work be taxed more heavily than income from capital gains?” He views this adjustment as a step toward enhancing solidarity within the system, although details on funding remain partially vague in their election proposals.
Importance of Coalition Readiness
Habeck highlighted the necessity for democratic parties to remain open to dialogue and coalition-building, stating, “The Union, SPD, FDP, and Greens have more in common than we do with the AfD.” He referenced the political situation in Austria, where recent coalition talks led to a government with the right-wing FPÖ after failed negotiations between conservative and social democratic parties.
Criticizing CSU leader Söder for his continued exclusion of a black-green coalition, Habeck called for a more inclusive political discourse.
When addressing the possibility of Donald Trump’s second term in the United States, Habeck stressed the importance of taking Trump’s statements on tariffs and NATO seriously, even if they seem outlandish. He believes Europe must respond to Trump collectively and assertively, commending Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his firm stance against Trump’s demands during a press conference.
Habeck also took aim at Union chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz for his dismissive remarks towards Scholz’s approach, arguing that engagement with Trump should not be characterized by submission.
Furthermore, Habeck reiterated his call for increased German defense spending, suggesting a target of three and a half percent of economic output as a feasible goal. He emphasized that it is essential to recognize and address the evolving security landscape and the challenges facing the Bundeswehr, cautioning against allowing outdated fiscal rules, such as the debt brake, to hinder necessary security measures.