It won’t happen with the CDU
Linnemann opposes reform of the debt brake
March 3, 2024, 2:10 a.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
The Greens are insisting on this, as are a few Social Democrats, and in some cases even CDU politicians are calling for the debt brake to be reformed. Now Union politician Carsten Linnemann speaks out on the topic – and is not very enthusiastic.
In the debate about the debt brake, CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann vigorously contradicted Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein, who had shown himself fundamentally open to reform. “With the CDU there will be no reform or abolition of the debt brake. Period,” Linnemann told the news portal “t-online”. There is “no legitimacy whatsoever for it.”
“I would rather put my energy into growth and not into this repetitive debate about new debt,” added the CDU general secretary. Hahn recently told the Berlin “Tagesspiegel” that there were “smart proposals on the table to reform the debt brake, especially from the Council of Experts, which must be taken very seriously.” He is ready to talk about it.
The Greens subsequently insisted on negotiations on reforming the debt brake. “As the Greens parliamentary group, we propose extending an invitation to the federal states to move forward together here,” explained parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge.
Kai Wegner is also in favor of it
The SPD and the Greens in particular are calling for a reform of the debt brake – 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 currently also Rhine.
The traffic light coalition had agreed to stick to the debt brake for 2024. However, it was also decided to examine the use of existing exceptions if the situation in Ukraine requires this. There are also considerations for a new or expanded Bundeswehr special fund.