Kohl Challenger Pledges to Restore Welfare Programs
Opposition chancellor candidate Gerhard Schroeder entered the final stretch of his election campaign Saturday by pledging to restore programs to help the most vulnerable members of society.
Schroeder, the front-runner for the Sept. 27 vote, confidently predicted he will unseat Chancellor Helmut Kohl. If he does, it will be partly with promises to repeal unpopular cuts to the welfare state.
Schroeder, a Social Democrat, fired off forceful, fist-shaking speeches in Berlin, Munich and Bonn. He said strengthening the economy shouldn’t come at the expense of Germans struggling to get by, including workers who fall ill and pensioners.
Schroeder’s intensive tour gave him a head start in the decisive five-week spurt of heavy campaigning by both candidates. Kohl planned to begin the last leg of his campaign with a single rally today.
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