That is 12 points less compared to december. Steinbruck is thus in the list of the most popular party politicians 29 points behind chancellor angela merkel, who is in first place with an approval rating of 65 percent (plus 5). In october, after his nomination was announced, steinbruck’s approval rating was still at 59 percent.
In a direct election, the gap between merkel (CDU) and steinbruck was 25 percentage points, more than ever before (55 to 30). If federal elections were held next sunday, 41 percent of voters would vote union (unchanged). The SPD came in at 28 percent (down 1), the greens at 14 (up 2), the FDP at four (unchanged) and the left at six percent (unchanged). This meant that red-green still had no majority of its own at 42 percent.
Steinbruck called on the public in germany to adopt a new culture of political debate. It also means that misunderstandings were not deliberately spread, steinbruck, who turned 66 on thursday, told the "hannoversche allgemeine zeitung". His remarks on the chancellor’s salary, for example, had only been about comparing pay in relation to responsibility. "I found it malicious that afterwards it was insinuated that i had spoken out for an increase in the chancellor’s salary. This is absurd."
In view of the debates about actual or supposed mistakes by politicians, he wonders what type of politician we will get in the future. "I’m afraid we’re going to end up with very polished politicians who watch every word they say to make sure they don’t offend the public. I will never be one of the smooth rounded pebbles." Steinbruck had repeatedly stressed that you don’t need a decoder to understand him.
The SPD now wants to score more points again with content. With a redistribution worth billions, the party wants to prevent families with low or medium incomes from slipping down to the level of hartz IV in the event of an election victory. "We want to fight hidden poverty, especially among young parents," said SPD vice chairwoman manuela schwesig in berlin on thursday.
The party wants a completely new child benefit: free allowances for top earners are to be abolished and child benefit and child supplement are to be merged. Additional costs estimated at two to three billion euros per year.
According to schwesig, families with a gross income of up to 3,000 euros a month will receive a maximum of 324 euros a month per child, based on the current child benefit of 184 euros and a child supplement of 140 euros. It is unfair that in germany, parents with high incomes receive up to 100 euros more monthly support for their children than parents with lower incomes, said schwesig.
For higher earners, the free allowances for care, education and training introduced by red-green in 2002 are to be dropped. This hit parents with an income of 70,000 euros/year or more. Child benefit should be paid on a sliding scale according to income.
With higher income limits than the previous child supplement, it is to be ensured that single mothers with a medium income also benefit. Higher incomes continue to receive today’s child benefit of 184 euros (1./2. Child), 190 euro (3. Child) and 215 euro (further children) – but no more free contributions.
The SPD parliamentary group continued its conference in berlin on thursday. One topic was the difficult situation on the german newspaper market – most recently, the "frankfurter rundschau" had to file for insolvency, and the "financial times deutschland" was discontinued. As a guest, springer CEO mathias dopfner explained the situation.