Merkel's rival takes a leaf from Macron's election playbook

Berlin

CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel's main domestic challenger, Martin Schulz, joined international criticism of Germany's budget surplus as he sought to gain an opening 10 weeks out from federal elections.

Mr Schulz, a Social Democrat whose party has been Ms Merkel's coalition partner for the past four years, pledged on Sunday to guarantee that surplus revenue would go toward spending on infrastructure if he wins the Chancellery on Sept 24. That sentiment echoed French President Emmanuel Macron, who last week called Germany out for doing too little to address its trade surplus.