Budget 2024 - Budget talks continue - Merz threatens new lawsuit
The coalition leaders are continuing to negotiate the 2024 budget - but depending on the agreement reached, they may face another constitutional complaint. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz hinted at this in the event that the debt brake is suspended. "From my point of view, there is no reason to declare another emergency now," the CDU chairman told the German Press Agency on Tuesday. A possible motion by the coalition would of course be looked at closely. "But if it came to pass as decided at the SPD federal party conference, then we would certainly seriously consider a new lawsuit in Karlsruhe," said Merz.
At the party conference at the weekend, the SPD argued in favor of suspending the debt brake for 2024 as well. "Constitutional leeway for the budget" must be used in the interests of the population, the delegates decided. Politically, the war in Ukraine had created the conditions for an emergency situation that would allow more borrowing.
The parliamentary group leaders also invited
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) have been struggling for days to find a solution to the budget crisis. They also met in the Chancellery on Tuesday morning. According to dpa information, the parliamentary group leaders were also invited to the talks after a short time. However, it was said that this was not a coalition committee.
Scholz and Lindner had expressed confidence on Monday that the negotiations would soon be concluded and spoke of progress. Green parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann also said on Tuesday that she was confident that a solution would be found very soon. "In many situations over the past two years, we have proven that we can discuss and make decisions together in a very constructive manner," she said. However, Haßelmann did not want to comment on possible concrete measures.
Merz said that he could no longer understand why the government was not making a decision. "This is at best a self-inflicted emergency on the part of the federal government. It has little to do with the external circumstances and a lot to do with the internal state of the federal government." He does not currently see any indications of an end to the traffic light coalition. However, should the traffic light coalition fail to set up the 2024 budget, "the Federal President will certainly hold further talks", added Merz.
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- The budget discussions for 2024 are ongoing in Karlsruhe, with the coalition leaders meticulously negotiating the financial plan.
- The SPD party conference over the weekend advocated for the suspension of the debt brake for 2024 to ensure "constitutional leeway for the budget."
- CDU chairman and Opposition leader Friedrich Merz threatened a new constitutional complaint if the debt brake was suspended and the coalition proceeded with its motion.
- Merz described the situation as an "emergency" created by the political circumstances and the war in Ukraine, which theoretically allows for increased borrowing.
- In Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, and Finance Minister Christian Lindner have been working tirelessly to overcome the budget crisis.
- The German Press Agency reported that parliamentary group leaders had convened in the Chancellery for discussions on the budget crisis, in addition to meetings between coalition leaders.
- SPD spokeswoman Britta Haßelmann expressed optimism that a resolution would soon be reached, citing their past experience in making constructive decisions together.
- However, Merz criticized the federal government's slow decision-making process, describing it as an "internal issue" that could potentially lead to the collapse of the traffic light coalition.
- As the SPD's budget proposals advance, the CDU, FDP, and other parties in Germany closely monitor developments, demonstrating the complexity of the nation's budget planning.
- Meanwhile, as Germany grapples with its finances and budget crisis, international investors keep a close eye on developments in the political sphere, eagerly anticipating a resolution to stabilize the country's financial standing.
Source: www.stern.de
