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Christian Lindner
Photo: TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP
The federal government put together several relief packages this year to support citizens.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has now rejected hopes for additional measures.
He sees no financial scope for further relief for citizens in the coming year.
With the agreed price brakes and tax measures, the government had already "reached the limit," he told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (Friday edition).
"I will not cross them."
Lindner referred to an already "enormous general government financing deficit" in the coming year.
Up to 200 billion euros are available for price controls and hardship aid.
According to the finance minister, the price brakes could curb inflation.
In the long term, however, Germany must reestablish its social prosperity.
"We're getting poorer collectively," said Lindner.
"We must therefore strengthen our competitiveness so that our economy is able to pay higher wages by selling higher-quality products and services."
Lindner had started with the intention of not wanting to touch the debt brake.
In view of the Ukraine war and its effects, he has long since abandoned it.
This year the government agreed on three relief packages.
Since Lindner took office, the debts have totaled around 500 billion euros - of which 200 billion are distributed in special pots alone as a defense against high energy prices and 100 billion to modernize the Bundeswehr.
The FDP politician defended his financial policy this week.
The government must react decisively to the consequences of the war in Ukraine, said the FDP chairman on Thursday.
This is the only way to preserve the economic substance.
"Otherwise, the long-term economic damage to our country would be greater than the burden of the current debt."
asc/AFP