“It just doesn’t work.” Germany needs to function again. “That’s what we want, that’s what we need. And now, especially our regional associations, are running out of patience.”
And he goes on: “The federal government is failing across the board.” Dulger can “increasingly understand every angry citizen.” His judgment is drastic: “It hurts me to see how deeply Germany has sunk in the last two years!”
Dulger criticizes the retirement at 63: “We all need to work longer”
The growth engine of Germany is increasingly becoming a drag on the EU, said the president of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations. There is no relief for companies, no planning security, and no predictability – instead, there is excessive bureaucracy, more and more regulations, and increasing reporting obligations. There is less investment.
Dulger also addressed the issue of retirement and emphasized that the retirement at 63 was a mistake: “We all need to work longer to maintain prosperity.”
With regard to the budget ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court, Dulger said that the utopia of a debt-financed upswing had collapsed in on itself. As a result of the ruling, the federal government must plug billions of holes in the budget.
Dulger makes tough demands to improve Germany’s economic competitiveness
The state had raised expectations among citizens and companies that it could solve problems with money, said Dulger. The state can no longer meet these expectations. “And that’s why I can increasingly understand some angry citizens, and we employers are disappointed.”
Dulger called for Germany’s economic competitiveness to once again be at the center of political action. More net income from gross income must remain for employees in companies. The welfare state must be restructured.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
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Henning Vöpel
Board member of the Order Policy Foundation and director of the Center for European Policy
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Henning Vöpel
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Henning Vöpel
Chairman of the Foundation for Economic Policy and Director of the Center for European Policy
2024 brings enormous challenges with groundbreaking conflicts and important elections. The Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict could undergo dramatic changes. Industrial transformation in Germany faces…
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Henning Vöpel
Executive of the Foundation for Economic Order and Director of the Center for European Policy
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