Dispute between Lindner and Habeck: Kühnert reacts annoyed

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SPD General Secretary Kühnert: "We will only be able to clarify this in confidential discussions - not by post"

Photo: Frederic Kern / Future Image / IMAGO

The SPD reacted with incomprehension to the public dispute between Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).

The ministers clashed violently on the 2024 budget and wrote sharp letters to each other, each of which became public.

"The public exchange of letters is a ritual in which everyone involved loses," SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert told SPIEGEL.

»It weakens the reputation of the sender, it annoys the citizens and it doesn't solve any problems.

The guidelines of the traffic light coalition are the jointly agreed projects in the coalition agreement.« The task is to implement these projects, according to Kühnert.

»We can only clarify exactly how we do this in a confidential conversation – not by post.«

There is also irritation at the top of the SPD parliamentary group.

"I don't understand why two ministers who have each other's mobile phone numbers don't talk to each other and instead exchange letters," parliamentary group leader Verena Hubertz told SPIEGEL.

»As a traffic light, it would do us good to discuss different ideas constructively and confidentially.«

The core of the dispute between Habeck and Lindner is about the question of whether and how more income can be generated and which projects should have priority.

"We ask you not to make any further public or internal pre-determinations that unilaterally prioritize further spending," wrote the Green Habeck in a letter to the FDP leader on Tuesday.

Habeck suggests discussing "how we can improve income" and reduce environmentally harmful subsidies.

Finance Minister Lindner also rejected the claim by letter on Wednesday.

On the one hand, he is surprised that the green ministries apparently no longer accept the key figures for the 2024 federal budget.

These were approved by the federal cabinet on March 16, 2022, as was the financial plan up to 2026, he wrote.

The Ministry of Finance feels bound by this, according to the FDP politician.

Lindner emphasized that in view of the economic situation »an additional tax burden on Germany as a business location is also economically wrong«.

With regard to Habeck's commitment to the debt brake, he added smugly: "I was relieved that the ministries led by the Greens are not questioning the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany."

Juso boss Rosenthal: “I agree with Habeck in terms of content”

In the SPD, one is surprised at the style of the argument, in terms of content, many are on Habeck's side.

"We should bring the discussion back to where it belongs, in the cabinet and in parliament," demanded the financial policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Michael Schrodi.

“The coalition agreement provides the framework, and there are projects such as basic child security.

I assume that the government will secure the funding for this.«

Juso boss Jessica Rosenthal goes even further.

"I'm sure that pen pals won't get us any further, it's better to sit down at a table," said Rosenthal.

»In terms of content, however, I agree with Robert Habeck.

To draw up a crisis budget for 2024 under the conditions of the debt brake and without additional income such as a one-off property tax would be negligent.«

Rosenthal said she expects the federal government to implement the social policy projects of the coalition agreement, such as basic child security and the student loan reform.

"Even with a view to rising prices, further relief will be necessary."