The federal budget for the coming year is shaped by the Corona crisis.
Many have a stomach ache in the face of high debts.
Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke in the general debate on Wednesday.
The
federal budget
for the coming year
is currently being
negotiated in the
Bundestag
.
On Wednesday, Chancellor
Angela Merkel
* became unusually emotional in the Bundestag (see update from December 9, 9:54 a.m.) and demanded new corona measures *.
Vice Chancellor
Olaf Scholz
defended the budget on Tuesday.
Update from December 9, 3:16 p.m.:
On Wednesday, a
general
debate
lasting several hours took place in the Bundestag
.
After that, the majority decided on the budget of the Chancellery for 2021. On Friday, the Bundestag will decide on the whole of the next
federal budget
- including new debt of almost 180 billion euros.
This year, too, the speakers used the general debate to discuss all kinds of topics.
The main topic was of course the
corona pandemic
.
Chancellor
Angela Merkel also
made an emotional statement
(see previous updates)
.
Update from December 9th, 12.49 p.m .:
Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) doesn’t
ignore it
for long at one point: “Sit down with the federal government and find
solutions
before
Christmas
how we can reduce contacts.” With these clear words he called for a short-term
federal-state summit
in the Bundestag
.
Otherwise there is a risk that the coronavirus will be introduced to the older generation on the holidays.
Dobrindt
described the state debate as to whether a meeting before Christmas was necessary
as "strange".
The CSU regional group leader, like Merkel previously
(see update from December 9th, 9:54 a.m.), is
clearly committed to the proposals of the
Leopoldina National Science Academy
.
His party leader Markus Söder is known to be a supporter of the tough crackdown on the corona virus.
Merkel in budget debate: Brinkhaus calls for a "solid basis" for Corona rules
Update from December 9th, 11:23 am:
Ralph Brinkhaus, parliamentary group leader of the Union, expects the Corona rules to be improved and, above all, to be put on a
“solid foundation”
, “so that we can work with them in the long term”.
Because
Brinkhaus
says critically in the direction of the Chancellor and the Prime Minister: "This bit by bit makes us all weary." It is still unclear whether there will be a meeting of the federal-state group before Christmas.
The household is special, it is a
corona household
, says Brinkhaus.
The Union did not want the high level of new debt.
But it is a "question of
intergenerational equity
that these burdens are borne by our generation as well as possible." The next generations would have their own problems that they would have to finance.
Therefore, the short repayment period is correct.
Nevertheless, the decision to new
debts was made
consciously, as the people
suffering from
the
pandemic
must not be left hanging.
But Brinkhaus also says that it will not be possible to replace all of the losses.
It is important to grow economically out of this crisis, to do more for progress and
to make
investments
.
Shortly before the general debate on the federal budget,
Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner
(CDU) is supported on the steps of the plenary hall.
You can read more about this here at Merkur.de *.
Merkel speech in the Berlin Bundestag: Lindner criticizes the lack of predictability
Update from December 9th, 10:57
a.m.: Not only to shimmy from one Prime Minister to the next, that's
important to
Green Party leader
Annalena Baerbock
.
If there had to be restrictions in schools because of Corona, one shouldn't simply say, "The schools have to solve this somehow".
Digitization and filter systems are necessary: "Money in the budget alone does not change reality." And above all, the country should not want to pick up where Germany was before the crisis.
“Not everything was good before the crisis!” Such action is not
intended for
the
future
.
Update from December 9, 10:48 a.m.:
After Angela Merkel,
Christian Lindner
, FDP leader, comes to the lectern and criticizes the lack of predictability of government action in the corona pandemic.
Reducing contact, wearing masks and keeping your distance is all right, but
curfews are
questioning the FDP.
"These are purely symbolic restrictions that are firstly ineffective, secondly interfere disproportionately with people's freedom and thirdly are only intended to simulate a planned procedure for the audience," says Lindner.
The amount of borrowing is excessive.
Lindner also calls for the November and December
aid to be
summarized
in one
aid
“that is paid out unbureaucratically”.
+
Christian Lindner, parliamentary group leader and party leader of the FDP, speaks during the general debate on the federal budget in the Bundestag next to Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
Merkel passionately in the Bundestag about Corona in Germany: Chancellor appeals to take science seriously
Update from December 9, 9:54 a.m.:
Merkel becomes particularly emotional in her speech when she talks about the current Corona numbers.
The reduction in contacts is not sufficient, Merkel emphasizes once again.
And Merkel says she believes in the power of
enlightenment
.
And wants to make it clear what it is leading: In
their opinion
, what
science
says we should really take seriously.
Merkel expressly supports
the
Leopoldina's
proposals
, which became public on Tuesday.
You have to come back to incidence values of 50.
At this point, Merkel continues to speak furiously, hardly takes a breath between her sentences, that's how much she wants to convey.
She names the current
death rates
and the occupancy of the intensive care beds.
590 dead in one day.
“I'm sorry!” Merkel suggests further tightening.
She also believes it is wrong to open hotels to relatives over Christmas, as this would create false incentives.
Merkel, however, believes the Leopoldina's recommendation to close shops is correct.
And the Chancellor also thinks it is important
to close
the
schools
longer, possibly until January 10th.
It even brings into play that the holidays start on December 16 instead of December 19.
If the abolition of compulsory schooling does not work - "that is not my competence, I do not want to interfere" - digital lessons would have to be used, for example.
What Merkel wants to say: The
contacts
have to be less, especially before Christmas.
"If it's last Christmas with the grandparents, then we will have missed something, we shouldn't."
Merkel in the Bundestag on Corona: Short-time work benefits were an important bridge
Update from December 9th, 9.43 a.m.:
You also have to
pay attention
to the
younger
ones
, said Merkel.
Unfortunately, the implementation of decisions sometimes takes too long.
And
families
are also under particular stress.
A lot has been done for them, "which is also reflected in this budget".
Examples of this: the increase in child benefit and the elimination of the solidarity surcharge.
This leeway is very important for families.
Update from December 9th, 9:33 a.m.:
Merkel once again emphasizes
short-time work
benefits
in her speech
.
For "many, many, it was a bridge".
But the most important key in successfully combating the coronavirus is the "willingness of every individual to participate".
Because everyone has to participate, the household must also consider many groups in society who have
to accept
restrictions
.
Merkel turns to the elderly first.
She knows that the vaccinations in the first quarter of 2021 will not yet see any significant change in the population, as there is not yet enough
vaccine
available.
But a lot would be done if there was an effect where there are currently high death rates.
Angela Merkel speaks in the Bundestag: "There is money, now it has to be used"
Update from December 9, 9:20 a.m.:
The federal budget creates the important prerequisites for Germany to
emerge
well from this
corona crisis
, says Merkel in the Bundestag.
The
economy
is only resilient where the pandemic is under control.
The task is therefore to cushion the consequences of the pandemic.
Resilient foundations are needed for sustainable
economic growth
.
Merkel says quite openly that in some places “action must be taken”.
"The
money
is there, now it has to be used." It only brings something "when the money flows." But: "We invest wisely in the future", for example in
vaccine research
, which Merkel cites as an example.
She also names the national hydrogen strategy and artificial intelligence, among other things.
Update from December 9th, 9.15 a.m
.:
Angela Merkel
(CDU) speaks in the Bundestag.
The federal budget for 2021 will amount to almost 500 billion euros. Almost 180 billion euros of new debt will be required.
That is “anything but easy”, especially after many years with a balanced
budget
.
New debt meant "constraints on future spending and future generations".
Merkel emphasizes how special the
pandemic
situation
is.
That requires special action "and this is what this budget expresses".
Corona budget debate with Merkel: AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel sees "mass unemployment"
Update from December 9th, 9:08 a.m.:
Alice Weidel, AfD parliamentary group leader, is the first speaker to take the lectures in the
Bundestag
this Wednesday
.
She once again criticizes the
lockdown
in Germany, which brings "more collateral damage than good".
Instead, the most vulnerable groups should be more protected.
Weidel calls for an end to this “counterproductive lockdown policy”.
She makes fun of the fact that the
November
aid will probably not be paid out until January because there are software problems.
“So much for
digitization,
” says Weidel.
"Mass unemployment" and an "enormous mountain of debt" are on the horizon.
Future generations would have to pay off the debt for a long time.
Update from December 9th, 8:53 a.m.:
This week the Bundestag deals with the
budget
- the climax will take place on this Wednesday.
In a four-hour general debate starting at 9 a.m., Chancellor
Angela Merkel
will also
take the floor and explain her policy.
Corona budget debate in the Bundestag: Olaf Scholz defends debt plans
First report from December 8, 9:20 p.m .:
Berlin - During the final deliberations on the
federal budget
, the grand coalition defended its debt plans for the coming year.
The federal government has the responsibility to protect the health of the citizens and at the same time to lead the country out of the crisis economically and socially, said Vice Chancellor
Olaf Scholz
on Tuesday in the Bundestag.
"We have chosen this path and will continue to do so," he announced.
Union parliamentary group vice-president
Andreas Jung
emphasized that the planned high debts would not be taken lightly, but because human life, health and coexistence were endangered.
“Because it hits our country to the core.” However, the opposition criticized the wrong focus.
Finance Minister Scholz's
budget
for the coming year is shaped by the
Corona crisis
*.
Companies should be able to apply for grants of around 39.5 billion euros.
Hospitals, airports and the railways are also supported.
Around 2.7 billion euros are earmarked
for the procurement of
corona vaccines
*.
Overall, Scholz is planning to spend almost half a trillion euros, more than a third of which will be financed from debt.
Loans of almost 180 billion euros are planned.
Bundestag adopts budget: debt brake is suspended
The
Bundestag
sat therefore - as in the current year - the debt brake in the constitution suspended.
Actually, income and expenditure in the federal budget have to be balanced as far as possible without new loans.
The
debt brake
allows only minimal debt of up to 0.35 percent of the gross domestic product.
Scholz's plans for the coming year clearly exceed this figure.
The Bundestag can only make an exception in emergencies, such as natural disasters or exceptional emergency situations.
The federal government must then at the same time draw up a repayment plan for the debt.
The federal states welcome the suspension of the #debt brake next year.
In a briefing, they take a position on the # household2021 The @bundesrat agree that there will also be an "exceptional emergency situation" in 2021.
#bundestagsnachrichten 👇https: //t.co/OiSGHzsNSE
- Today in the Bundestag (@hib_Nachrichten) December 8, 2020
The
Union
emphasized that Germany would have to repay billions in the coming decades.
At the
same time,
Scholz
believes that strong economic growth can improve the debt ratio again on its own.
"We will grow out of this crisis," he announced.
But that will only work if investments are made in the right future fields, for example in a
CO2-neutral economy
and technological and digital progress.
In addition, people with high wealth would have to make a higher tax contribution.
Bundestag adopts budget: Criticism from the FDP and AfD, the Left and the Greens call for investments
While the
FDP
and
AfD
* sharply criticized the amount of the planned debts, the
Left
* and
Greens
*
demanded
that loans should also be taken out for investments in the future.
Above all, they criticized the main focus of the budget.
While corporations like
Lufthansa
would be saved with billions, the government was feeding the unemployed with alms, said the left housekeeper,
Gesine Lötzsch
.
She demanded a property levy for the richest 0.7 percent of the population and the abolition of the "future killer" debt brake.
The housekeeper of the Greens,
Sven-Christian Kindler
, warned of the "dangerous pressure to save after Corona" - if the federal government wanted to comply with the debt rule again under all circumstances.
"You have to ensure that the red pen is not applied after Corona *," he said and called for longer debt repayment periods and more leeway for credit-financed investments through a reform of the debt brake.
Bundestag approves budget: Chancellor Merkel speaks on Wednesday in the general debate
FDP parliamentary group vice
Christian Dürr,
on the other hand, described debts as a “sweet poison” that tempted the federal government to solve all problems with money.
For example, the promised corporate aid would not yet reach those affected because Minister of Economic Affairs
Peter Altmaier
could not get the necessary software ready.
With the right policy, the federal government could get by with half of the debt in the coming year - but Scholz would have to dare to say no and cut spending.
Video: Finance Minister Olaf Scholz does not expect a black zero until 2024
The AfD also called for significantly lower debts.
The federal government's reaction to the crisis with the
partial lockdown
was completely exaggerated, said housekeeper
Peter Boehringer
.
In the coming year you will only really feel the effects, tens of thousands of bankruptcies are to be expected.
"After us, the flood" is clearly the motto of this budget of the cabinet exiles Merkel and Scholz, "he criticized.
On Friday, the
Bundestag will
finally
vote
on the budget for the coming year.
Before that, the budget plans of the individual ministries are on the agenda - on
Wednesday
that of the Chancellery with the traditional general debate with Chancellor
Angela Merkel
*.
(dpa / fmü) * Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen digital editorial network.
List of rubric lists: © Christoph Soeder / dpa
