Overview

• Winfried Kretschmann, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister President, emphasized the need for increased labor during crises, calling it essential to sustain national welfare.
• He described the concept of 'work-life balance' as 'strange' and argued that freedom must be earned through effort, sparking mixed reactions.
• Kretschmann called for a 'mental shift' to renegotiate the relationship between the state, market, and civil society, urging citizens to reassess their responsibilities.
• Rejecting the idea of cutting public holidays, he criticized a perceived 'entitlement culture' where citizens view the state as a provider of cheap benefits.
• The debate, rooted in economic challenges and slow growth, has intensified, with unions and political figures preparing responses to Kretschmann's controversial stance.