Habeck: Only saying where savings should not be made is irresponsible
The laborious compromise reached by the coalition leaders in the budget dispute has not met with unreserved approval, even within the coalition parties. Calls are getting louder not to make cuts in this or that area. However, Vice Chancellor Habeck makes it clear that anyone making such demands must also say where savings are to be made.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck has warned against abandoning the compromise reached by the coalition leaders on the austerity package. "If individual struts are now pulled out without putting in new ones, the overall solution will collapse. This means that anyone who wants to make changes in one area must offer coordinated counter-financing that is viable for all sides. However, we cannot afford not to give an answer, because the budget has to be done," said the Green politician.
Planned cuts in the federal budget had triggered fierce protests. The FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag, for example, announced a veto against the plans of the "Ampel" leaders to cut tax breaks for farmers. On Wednesday, Habeck, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner agreed on how to plug the billion-euro gaps in the federal budget for 2024 and in the climate and transformation fund following a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court.
"The Federal Chancellor, the Finance Minister and I negotiated intensively for three weeks in order to work out an austerity package that, as an overall solution, makes further investments possible, secures tens of thousands of jobs, preserves relief and maintains the social balance," said Habeck. He spoke of a package that implements the constitutional court ruling, has been put together on the basis of existing rules and demands something from all sides. "Cuts impose something on people and I would have liked to avoid it." He can understand everyone affected who is now disappointed.
Habeck defends compromise
"However, as there are now also calls in the political arena not to make cuts in certain areas, I have to say: as politicians, we are obliged to facilitate an overall solution," said Habeck. "What politicians cannot do is shirk their responsibility and only say where savings should not be made. I would also like to be able to promote e-mobility for longer with the environmental bonus, use more money for the solar industry or cap the costs of grid fees. But I know that other things are important to others and that every cut means hardship. That's why I'm defending the compromise, which is what it is."
Another controversial issue, for example, is the halt to the state purchase premium for electric cars at the end of Sunday. Three deputy leaders of the SPD parliamentary group had declared that the stop to the subsidy announced by the Ministry of Economic Affairs at short notice on Saturday was "extremely unfortunate". They called on Habeck to organize a more reliable transition.
Habeck once again spoke out in favor of reforming the debt brake. The Constitutional Court ruling as a result of the Union's lawsuit meant that the coalition would now have to save billions of euros, said the Minister of Economic Affairs. "And at the same time, we should discuss how we can improve our investment rules in the future. It has long been known that I consider the debt brake rules as they stand to be outdated."
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The Traffic light coalition, consisting of SPD, FDP, and Alliance 90/The Greens, faced criticism for their budgetary policy decisions. In response, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck stressed the importance of coordinated counter-financing for any changes made to the coalition's austerity package, as abandoning the agreed-upon compromises could lead to the overall solution collapsing.
Furthermore, the FDP parliamentary group vetoed the plans of the coalition leaders to cut tax breaks for farmers, sparking renewed debate over the budgetary cuts. In response, Habeck emphasized the need for political responsibility, stating that politicians cannot merely point out where savings should not be made without offering viable alternatives.
Moreover, three deputy leaders of the SPD parliamentary group expressed their disapproval of the sudden halt to the state purchase premium for electric cars, urging Habeck to provide a more reliable transition plan. In this context, Habeck reiterated his support for reforming the debt brake, arguing that the outdated rules should be updated to improve investment rules.
Source: www.ntv.de
