FDP leader Christian Lindner calls to pay the state surplus to the citizens or use for debt reduction. "The state has taken away money from people, for which no service was provided - that gives you back in business," said Lindner the "image". "I demand that the surplus either repay debts or transfer the money to citizens as a one-off payment."
For a family of four, according to Lindner's calculations, 600 euros would come together. In view of the economic situation this could be "an important economic aid". Because the additional money could boost demand.
According to preliminary results of the Federal Statistical Office, the German government achieved a billion-euro surplus in the first half of 2019. Despite the economic downturn, the Federal Government, Länder, municipalities and social insurances took in the bottom line around 45.3 billion euros more than they spent.
The renunciation of new debts is a political goal, which was achieved under ex-Federal Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) for the first time in decades and has taken over the successor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
But now the debt rules are not only viewed critically in the left-wing camp. Also, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) questions the black zero. And the employer-funded Institute of German Economy (IW) in Cologne is calling for an end to the debt brake in its current form.
