The Essentials

The government has two big problems: The economy is doing poorly (recession) and there is a shortage of skilled workers. Merz presented two solutions for this:

⚡ 1. The Industrial Electricity Price

Large factories (like steel mills or chemical plants) use extremely large amounts of electricity. Because electricity is expensive in Germany, many companies are moving abroad. From January 1, 2026, the state will pay part of their electricity bill. This is intended to secure jobs in Germany.

👴 2. The Active Pension

Germany needs workers. Therefore, it should be worthwhile to continue working even in retirement age. Anyone who already receives a pension and still works can earn up to 2,000 euros per month tax-free. This means: Gross equals Net.

Why does this matter?

Many companies are going bankrupt or moving away. Merz is trying to turn the rudder around ("The tanker is turning"). He is spending a lot of money to keep industry here. At the same time, he continues to support Ukraine with 11.5 billion euros, which the AfD strongly criticizes.

What do others say?

The AfD says: This is all a waste of money. They want to build nuclear power plants instead and stop paying money to Ukraine.

The Greens think the help for Ukraine is good, but say: We need even more money for climate protection.

The FDP warns: If the state pays for electricity for companies, it is unfair to small businesses (like bakers) who do not get this.