Press Statement Christiane Benner, President of IG Metall, on the end of the “traffic light” coalition

“This country and the people who live and work here deserve stability, security, and, above all, confidence. Clear decisions on the next steps must now be made quickly.

We cannot afford uncertainty in the coming period. Not just figuratively, but in very concrete terms: We cannot afford to have investments postponed any longer, for workers to be unsure about the future of their jobs, or for the infrastructure around us to crumble.

What the economy and society need now more urgently than ever is a government capable of taking action, a constructive opposition, and an active state—both domestically and internationally—with a focus on political action that puts people’s needs at the center. An active industrial and social welfare policy—that is, investment and social justice—is indispensable. This is how IG Metall will engage with developments in the coming weeks and months.

Government action means taking responsibility, even in difficult times. Unfortunately, not all partners in this coalition have been willing to do so. In that sense, the decisions made yesterday were only logical.”