(de-news.net) – Peer Steinbrück, a renowned SPD politician, emphasized the urgent need for reforms in Germany to ensure the state’s functionality and public trust. He remarked that the situation was serious, noting that Germans had long felt complacent, as if living in a utopia. However, to maintain prosperity and social benefits, the country must adapt to new global challenges.
Ahead of coalition talks between CDU/CSU and SPD, Steinbrück, along with former Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, ex-judge Andreas Voßkuhle, and media executive Julia Jäkel, presented comprehensive reform proposals. These were shared with negotiation participants and reportedly received significant interest.
Steinbrück highlighted the pressure to strengthen the state’s operational capacity. He advocated for a strong state that reduces bureaucratic obligations for citizens and businesses, focusing instead on random checks and stricter penalties for rule-breakers. Steinbrück warned that eroding trust in the state’s functionality and political problem-solving could pose a threat to democracy.