Resistance against general attack

The German government seems driven by a frantic pace, presenting new social injustices almost weekly. These are sold in the media as reforms. In reality, it is a full-scale assault on the social and democratic rights of workers, pensioners, families – the vast majority of people in Germany. The entire process is being carried out at such a pace and on such a scale that it's difficult to keep track. At the end of June, it was the attacks on pensions; since last week, it's the reform package that, according to Chancellor Merz, is supposed to lead us out of the "weakness of our economy."

A particular point of contention: the mandatory sick note from the first day of work. The claim is that employees are sick too often. The government knows that this new regulation is nonsense, not least because of overcrowded doctors' offices. It's a perfidious distraction from other attacks, such as the extension of fixed-term employment contracts to 48 months. This means four years of uncertainty. Or the so-called tax reform. With the ludicrous increase in the top tax rate, they pretend that all segments of society are being taxed.

The fact that no one expects anything from Merz anymore is clearly demonstrated by his steadily declining popularity ratings. There also seem to be hardly any illusions left among the population regarding the SPD. Nevertheless, the resistance is still too weak. Too much attention is still being paid to the incompetence of the political personnel, and too little to the long-term course of the federal governments.

One aspect of their mandate is clearly illustrated by the fuel tax break that expired last week. For two months, Finance Minister Klingbeil (SPD) forwent nearly 20 cents in tax revenue per liter of fuel sold. The Federal Cartel Office reported that the tax cut was not passed on in full by the corporations. And at the end of the tax break, the corporations made another killing: Prices rose again significantly before the discount ended. Fuel that had been discounted through tax deductions was sold at a higher price. It's solely about securing the corporations' profits.

Klingbeil made the other side of the mandate clear during the presentation of the 2027 draft budget: Cuts will be made across all departments to free up a third more money for war preparations than last year. Nearly €110 billion is earmarked for modernizing the Bundeswehr, representing every third euro of the budget. Billions more will come from debts collected under the guise of "special funds" or from military aid for Ukraine. For this, the Finance Minister is prepared to dip into reserves and take on record levels of debt.

The draft budget exemplifies the federal government's approach: militarism is being promoted at the expense of the majority and to the benefit of bank and corporation profits. All this is to secure global hegemony against Russia and China, in conjunction with and dependent on the USA – even through war.

Anyone who fails to recognize this connection is incapable of organizing the necessary resistance. When DGB (German Trade Union Confederation) chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi claims to see "the right signals for employment, growth, and relief" in the federal government's reforms, she is mistaken. That's why the ver.di (United Services Union) council's criticism of her statement is so crucial: "We will not be judged by how well we get along with governments, but by how resolutely we stand up for the interests of workers." This criticism also signals that the country will not remain silent.

(Photo: Thomas Range)