Germany's next government can build its future policies on solid public finances thanks to better than expected tax revenues and an economic recovery following the pandemic, acting Finance Minister and Chancellor-in-waiting Olaf Scholz said on Thursday (November 11).
"It was important to me to continue with massive investments despite the coronavirus crisis," Scholz told reporters, adding "these record investments have addressed the huge challenges we need to tackle, irrespective of the coronavirus crisis, such as climate protection and digitalization."
Asked if he expected the three parties working to form a new government to overcome policy differences now more easily and seal a coalition agreement before the end of this month, Scholz said he had been confident from the beginning and this confidence had become even stronger now.
Germany's likely next chancellor, of the SPD Social Democrats said to laughter:
"I am delighted that the parties involved in forming a government, the CDU, I mean the SPD, the Greens and the FDP so far did a good job in keeping discussions confidential and I want to keep it that way."
