Green Party leader Lang warns against strict austerity measures
Despite new billion-euro gaps in the federal government's finances, the Green Party leadership does not believe in a strict austerity policy. The logic that the belt must now be tightened will not work in the end, said party leader Ricarda Lang on the ZDF program "Berlin direkt" on Sunday.
"Because that would save us into an economic and therefore also a social crisis in this country." Saving on social issues in particular is not a good idea, as the government must also maintain social cohesion. "We know that right-wing parties in particular are constantly mobilizing people's social concerns and fears."
The background to the austerity debate is a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court that loans for coronavirus aid may not be shifted to the climate fund. This will tear a hole of 60 billion euros in the federal government's financial planning.
When asked about the Greens' priorities for where savings could be made, Lang said: "We can talk about climate-damaging subsidies." In the middle of the week, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) pointed out that environmentally harmful subsidies amounted to at least 65 billion euros in 2018 - more recent data is not available.
Lang emphasized that the projects from the climate fund are not just about "a few green pet projects", but about Germany as a business location. There is currently a global race to see where a climate-neutral business location can be created and where jobs can be retained in the long term. One example is "green" steel, i.e. steel produced in a climate-neutral way. The question is whether this will be produced in Germany or in the USA or other parts of the world.
- Under the new financial planning, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that loans for coronavirus aid cannot be transferred to the climate fund, resulting in a significant 60 billion-euro gap.
- Despite the Green Party's commitment to reducing climate damage, party leader Ricarda Lang suggests focusing on discussions about eliminating climate-damaging subsidies, as these subsidies amounted to at least 65 billion euros in 2018.
- In a shift towards green economics, Ricarda Lang, the leader of the Green Party, emphasizes the importance of investing in Germany's future as a climate-neutral business location, especially in "green" steel production, ensuring long-term job retention and staying competitive with countries like the USA and others.
Source: www.ntv.de
