Meyer in the early start
“Debt brake enables the state to act”
February 29, 2024, 10:58 a.m
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FDP parliamentary group deputy Christoph Meyer doesn’t believe in debt-financed investment programs. The economy creates more growth in other ways. We will agree on this, especially with Economics Minister Habeck.
The deputy chairman of the FDP parliamentary group, Christoph Meyer, has rejected renewed calls for debt-financed government investments. First of all, the federal government is already investing at a record level, said Meyer in the early start of ntv. On the other hand: “The debt brake is in place.”
The debt brake is “a central element in making this state capable of acting again because it increases the pressure on the country to consolidate,” said Meyer. The tax authorities are expecting tax revenues of almost one trillion euros next year. So there is enough money, it just needs to be prioritized differently.
“It may be inconvenient for a politician to say that we can’t spend money on everything, that may be the case, but that’s what the FDP stands for,” said the parliamentary group vice-president. Most recently, the Green Party leadership proposed a billion-dollar “Germany Investment Fund,” which, according to party leader Omid Nouripour, would have to exceed the volume of the special fund for the Bundeswehr.
Meyer was nevertheless optimistic that the coalition will take further measures to make the German economy more competitive again. The Federal Economics Minister’s insight that the economy is no longer internationally competitive gives cause for hope. “That means we first have a common basis and now we have to find a compromise together on how we can put together a growth package.” The FDP will demand this more in the next few months.
“If the finance minister and economics minister are both of the opinion that something needs to be done here, then the coalition must move accordingly,” said Meyer. This will also be seen in the next few months. For the Liberals, the elements of such a package consist of cutting bureaucratic costs, tax relief and a moratorium on social spending.