Matthias Miersch denies an asylum power struggle between Olaf Scholz and the SPD faction – and suddenly praises Boris Pistorius as a possible chancellor in “Maischberger”.
Migration and asylum are leading to ever greater tensions in the SPD. The acting SPD general secretary Matthias Miersch contradicted reports in “Maischberger” that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had given an ultimatum to renegade members of his party. “He didn’t threaten a vote of confidence,” said Miersch on Tuesday evening.
- Matthias Miersch (SPD), acting general secretary
- Thorsten Frei (CDU), parliamentary group leader
- Yuval Noah HarariIsraeli historian and author
- Urban Priolcabaret artist
- Mariam Lau“Time”
- Anna Lehmanntaz
Miersch admitted that there was a “definitely lively discussion” about the federal government’s so-called security package at the parliamentary group meeting. The draft laws were changed again and in the end a “clear” majority in the group voted for them.
“The appeal is now to everyone that the so-called group discipline applies,” added Kevin Kühnert’s successor at “Maischberger”. On the talk show he was “very sure” that the security package would pass the Bundestag on Friday.
The Social Democrats’ designated chief strategist may have let himself be lured away a little too much during his first appearance on the talk show. “Would Boris Pistorius be a good chancellor?” Maischberger asked harmlessly in her “yes or no” question and answer session. “Yes,” replied Miersch briefly and clearly.
Miersch preferred to clarify two questions after this vote of confidence in the Defense Minister, who, like him, comes from Lower Saxony: There is no need for discussion in the SPD regarding the Chancellor issue. “Boris Pistorius would have what it takes, but we have a chancellor,” said the Secretary General.
What the SPD does not have so far, according to Maischberger, is a clear plan for a tax reform including a new top tax rate. “With respect: It’s not a concept yet,” the moderator contradicted Miersch’s choice of words. Her accusation: “You can’t just say: 95 percent pay less, one percent pay more. And we’ll show exactly how it turns out in a year.”
“That is under discussion,” he said when Maischberger specifically addressed a proposal according to which the top tax rate could rise to 48 percent for incomes of 278,000 euros or more per year.
Thorsten Frei (CDU), Parliamentary Managing Director of the Union parliamentary group, reminded “Maischberger” that 60 years ago the top tax rate was only applied to people who earned 15 times the average gross salary. Today the highest tax burden is already 1.2 times higher, namely 67,000 euros.
This means that a single worker at Bosch could pay the top tax rate, criticized Frei: “I don’t think these are the people who should be burdened even more.” He warned the traffic light that tax increases would not only affect a few high earners, but above all medium-sized companies, which could then potentially relocate hundreds of thousands of jobs abroad. “Insinuations,” replied Miersch. The middle in particular should be relieved by the tax plans. “A pig in a poke?” asked Maischberger.
Speaking of which: Former US President Donald Trump’s claim that immigrants are slaughtering pets in a town in the US state of Ohio may have been debunked. However, bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari (“Sapiens – a short history of humanity”) warned on “Maischberger” on Tuesday against ridiculing such supposedly absurd statements, as Vice President Kamala Harris did in the TV duel.
Trump is initially in a bad position, said Harari. In the end, for many viewers, the story was the only thing that stuck with the debate and was discussed – and elections are won with the topics that are discussed, even with such a stupid story, said the Israeli historian .