challenger schulz accuses merkel of lacking clear plan
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Challenger Schulz accuses Merkel of lacking clear plan

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Challenger Schulz accuses Merkel of lacking clear plan

Germany's Social Democratic Party SPD candidate for chancellor Martin Schulz arrives for an event at
Berlin - Arab Today

 German SPD leader Martin Schulz set out plans to boost investment and enhance European unity, accusing Chancellor Angela Merkel of making empty promises.

Schulz, the former European Parliament president, is hoping to beat Merkel in a September 24 election but his centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have lost momentum in the polls after initial gains following his nomination in January. 

Presenting a 10-point plan for a modern Germany and a better Europe, Schulz told supporters in Berlin that he would compel the state to raise spending on infrastructure and education.

"Germany can do more," Schulz said. "If we do not invest heavily in research and development, in electric vehicles and energy-saving production processes, we'll fall behind," Schulz said, adding that Europe's largest economy was being challenged by countries where the state owned or subsidised firms.

Such an investment push would cost "a lot of money", Schulz said but it would be better to spend the country's budget surplus that way than wasting it by promising voters tax cuts -- a clear dig at Merkel's conservatives.

Schulz said he was in favour of sticking to Germany's fiscal rules, also known as the debt brake, but he added: "In addition to the debt brake, we need a minimum level of investment that preserves the substance of our country and makes it sustainable."

Schulz gave no specific figures but has previously said he wanted to boost investment by 30 billion euros ($34.4 billion) over the next four years to improve schools and other amenities.

Merkel's conservatives and the SPD currently govern in a grand coalition but Schulz is not a minister.

Turning to Merkel, the SPD leader accused the chancellor of "boastfully promising" full employment while not telling voters how she wanted to achieve this.

Merkel's conservatives promised Germans more police, more homes and full employment within eight years when they presented their programme earlier this month.

Schulz also blamed Merkel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble for weakening European unity after having led efforts to impose more austerity measures on Greece as part of the euro zone's bailout programmes.

"If you want to be a state leader in Europe, you must acquire the trust of the peoples," Schulz said.

"And that's why for me it is a complete scandal when the chancellor says: 'We have big plans for Europe, but we'll only tell you after the election'." Schulz said he backed French President Emmanuel Macron's proposals for a joint euro zone budget to boost investment, adding Germany should also be prepared to increase its financial contribution to the bloc's first post-Brexit budget after 2019.

Germany already makes the largest net contribution to the EU budget at around 15 billion euros each year.

Schulz pointed out that Poland and Hungary were among the countries that are the biggest net recipients of the EU budget, but both rejected taking in refugees as demanded by a jointly agreed EU deal to share the burden of the migration crisis.

"Solidarity is not a one-way street," Schulz warned, calling for financial sanctions for those countries that violate the spirit of solidarity in the EU.

Source: Timesofoman

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

challenger schulz accuses merkel of lacking clear plan challenger schulz accuses merkel of lacking clear plan

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

challenger schulz accuses merkel of lacking clear plan challenger schulz accuses merkel of lacking clear plan

 



GMT 13:49 2017 Tuesday ,08 August

Suspicion of the theft of the leading art museum

GMT 13:08 2017 Tuesday ,07 February

2 killed, 15 injured in accidents over past 24 hours

GMT 13:11 2015 Monday ,02 November

OSCE: Turkey vote hindered by violence

GMT 04:55 2017 Wednesday ,11 October

Ronaldo, Portugal lock down World Cup berth

GMT 18:29 2017 Sunday ,29 October

Egypt battles landmines 75 years after El Alamein

GMT 02:43 2016 Monday ,19 December

Giant oil tanker pays EGP 81 m to transit Suez Canal

GMT 15:35 2018 Wednesday ,12 December

Qatari embassy celebrates national day

GMT 13:52 2018 Wednesday ,10 October

Kremlin does not prepare amendments to Constitution

GMT 02:57 2017 Wednesday ,13 December

Emmanuel Macron sworn in as French president

GMT 21:25 2017 Monday ,11 December

Premier’s Advisor receives Komi Republic Head

GMT 07:53 2017 Friday ,17 February

Trump's White House: Five takeaways from Thursday

GMT 01:45 2017 Thursday ,10 August

Jordan, Turkey discuss regional development

GMT 12:02 2017 Friday ,10 November

HRH Premier thanked by ambassador

GMT 04:51 2017 Thursday ,01 June

two security men injured in bomb blast in Qatif

GMT 22:34 2016 Saturday ,12 November

Palestine reiterates support to French peace initiative

GMT 03:52 2017 Monday ,04 September

(June22nd-July23rd

GMT 02:10 2017 Saturday ,07 October

October24th-November22nd
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday