German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has praised the governing coalition's recent reform push while making clear that the measures fall short of what the country ultimately requires.
In a summer interview with ZDF's "Berlin direkt" program, Steinmeier said "something has finally happened," noting that the coalition had left its defensive posture and shifted into forward play. He suggested the government may be entering a new phase of policymaking after months of internal disputes. However, asked whether the current steps were sufficient, he answered with an unequivocal "no", defending the decisions against critics who argue relief packages are too modest while simultaneously pressing for further legislative action.
Steinmeier expressed cautious optimism about the weeks ahead, signaling that the president sees momentum but expects the coalition to sustain it.