Bangladesh, April 14 -- Germanys incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has issued a sobering warning to citizens, acknowledging that many may face declining net incomes during his tenure. In an interview with the Bild tabloid published on April 13, Merz openly admitted that increased contributions to social security systems-specifically pensions, healthcare, and long-term care-are likely to eat into household incomes, posing a major economic and political challenge for his administration.

The remarks reflect a stark shift in tone for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader, who campaigned on promises of economic stability and fiscal discipline. As Merz navigates final coalition negotiations with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), he i...