As of: March 27, 2024, 10:30 a.m
By: Bona Hyun
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SPD leader Lars Klingbeil is in favor of reforming the debt brake.
© Joerg Carstensen/dpa
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil is once again in favor of reforming the debt brake.
Germany is on the “completely wrong path.”
Berlin – In the debate about the debt brake, the tone is becoming harsher: SPD leader Lars Klingbeil sees Germany “on the completely wrong path” when it comes to the debt brake and has declared debt policy to be one of the central questions in the economic development program planned by the traffic light coalition.
Debate about reforming the debt brake: Klingbeil criticizes Germany's course
“Economic stimulus to make the country strong is one of the crucial questions for the second half of the legislative period,” Klingbeil told the newspapers of the
Editorial Network Germany (RND)
.
There is “a big sticking point.
We are reaching our limits when it comes to debt rules.”
With the existing debt rules, it will be “extremely difficult” to meet the necessary expenses due to the war in Ukraine and climate change as well as for social security.
“That’s why we’re calling for fundamental reform.
“Also because we don’t want support for Ukraine to be played off against the necessary modernization of our country,” Klingbeil told the
RND
newspapers.
Both must be possible.
“People abroad are making fun of the fact that Germany is putting the debt brake in the shop window and preventing important investments in the future,” the SPD politician continued.
“We are on the completely wrong path.”
Is there a debt brake reform coming?
Union politicians are open to change
A reform of the debt brake came to the fore, especially in view of the war in Ukraine and a possible increase in defense spending.
Military expert Carlo Masala also spoke out in favor of reforming the debt brake so that investments are excluded.
A majority of the Union Prime Ministers recently announced that they wanted to make changes to the debt brake.
“They also realize that we are currently in a special situation and need to invest more in security, infrastructure, economic strength – and also in our democracy.
You know that this is not possible with the debt rules we currently have,” said Klingbeil.
Debate about the debt brake: Klingbeil expects tough disputes
The SPD and the Greens in particular are calling for a reform of the debt brake anchored in the Basic Law - the CDU/CSU and FDP reject this.
However, there are also a number of CDU politicians who are fundamentally open to change.
These include Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff and Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein.
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SPD leader Klingbeil is already expecting tough arguments in the budget discussions compared to 2024. “One thing is clear: we must not get into a situation in which we play off child benefit, pensions, investments and aid to Ukraine against each other,” Klingbeil told the
Handelsblatt.
(bohy/agencies)