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Vehicle dump: abolish diesel privilege at the petrol station
Photo: Ingo Wagner / dpa
The President of the Court of Auditors, Kay Scheller, has warned the grand coalition against further escalation of new debt in the federal budget in 2021 under the guise of the corona crisis.
"Not all new debts are caused by the pandemic and can be justified with the extraordinary emergency situation," said Scheller of the Düsseldorf "Rheinische Post" on Monday.
He turned against a reform or reinterpretation of the debt brake.
"Under the guise of the Corona crisis, funds for future expenses and wishes are parked in special funds," criticized the President of the Federal Audit Office (BRH).
The expected extension and tightening of the corona lockdown will make the crisis even more expensive.
"It is all the more urgent that the government and parliament concentrate on the core of their budget discussions: fighting the pandemic and its consequences," warned Scheller.
The suspension of the debt brake can only be justified with the emergency situation of the corona crisis.
"This means that necessary future investments, for example in digitization, artificial intelligence or hydrogen technology, must not be financed by new, additional debts, but specifically only the additional expenditure caused by the crisis," said the chief auditor.
"The government should tell them exactly apart."
He was "very worried," said Scheller.
"We are currently experiencing the total reversal of the situation in recent years." Scheller combined his appeal with a sweeping blow: "The next federal government should finally forego the climate-damaging diesel privilege," he said, without explaining the connection to the corona crisis.
"Tax subsidies for craftsmen's services should also be abolished, because the booming craft does not need any further state support, not even in times of the Corona."
The President of the Court of Auditors also called on the federal government to be more cautious about the planned billion-dollar support measures for the railways and the auto industry: "The federal government must now not compensate for other railroad problems that have nothing to do with Corona." important key industries are facing major upheavals.
"In view of the high corporate profits, however, the question arises as to why the industry does not finance this conversion itself," says Scheller.
This week, the coalition factions will end their deliberations on the federal budget for 2021. According to reports on Sunday, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) plans to increase new debt to 160 billion euros, previously planned at 96 billion euros.
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