Our taxes are too high. They deter foreign investors and hurt consumer confidence alike.

An easing of the burden for highly taxed companies is unavoidable if we want to keep Germany competitive. That's the only way to create more scope for corporate investments.

A courageous and consistent economic policy must become the basis of the coalition agreement. As the situation is so dramatic, one cannot afford to further delay principal changes in economic policy.

Germany is becoming more difficult to govern.

A grand coalition would be a very bad solution for Germany. A grand coalition would mean stagnation.

Such proposals take us back to the dark ages.