Scholz promises stable pension levels for decades to come

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to secure pensions in Germany for the long term. A law will be introduced that "guarantees a stable pension level in Germany for the coming decades", he said at the election campaign launch of the Saxon Social Democrats in Dresden. "Those who have worked and paid in for decades deserve that." Pensions are not a blessing. A stable pension level is a necessary guarantee of the welfare state.

Always make sensible decisions on Ukraine

Scholz began his speech on Schlossplatz by talking about Russia's war against Ukraine. He assured Ukraine of his continued support. "And at the same time, we will do everything we can to ensure that this war does not escalate into a war between Russia and NATO." He said that decisions would always be made rationally - which is why he did not give in to every wish. "All the requests for us to shoot down missiles and planes ourselves with our own weapons, to send soldiers there - we will not fulfill them, because that is not the right way. Support for Ukraine must and will be done differently."

East Germany is a high-tech location for Scholz

Scholz assured East Germany of further support for a strong economy. The government would provide the funds "so that Saxony, so that eastern Germany, is the place where the most semiconductors are produced in Europe". The east is a high-tech location. Of 19 projects for the relocation of semiconductor production in Europe, 13 are in Germany. Germany is the only economy in Europe where more than three percent of economic output is spent on research and development. This is also the reason why Germany is so strong in exports. "This must also be the benchmark for our policy in the future. To be at the forefront."

Scholz blames CDU and CSU for deteriorating infrastructure

Scholz admitted that Germany's infrastructure has been run down for decades. "There hasn't been enough investment for decades. The CDU/CSU has been responsible for this for decades and has not got to grips with it." His government is now ensuring that Germany finally picks up the pace and invests more in roads, railroads and digital infrastructure.

At the end, the Chancellor also addressed the election campaign in Saxony. "There can only be a good government in Saxony with a coalition government. And there can only be a good government in Saxony with a strong social democratic party in the next state parliament." Saxony's leading SPD candidate Petra Köpping had previously expressed a similar view. Saxony needs a stable government. The CDU cannot achieve this alone. "It doesn't matter who comes first in the vote count. What matters is that we can form a stable coalition. And that needs us."

On the fringes of the election rally, supporters of the small right-wing extremist party Freie Sachsen demonstrated against Scholz and called him a "warmonger". The police deployed around 230 officers and reported that the rally went off without a hitch.

A new state parliament will be elected in Saxony on September 1. In election polls, the current alliance of CDU, Greens and SPD no longer has a majority. The Greens and SPD must fear for their re-entry into the state parliament.