"Hands tied behind our backs, we go into the boxing match"
At the start of their national party conference, the Greens debate the effects of the debt brake ruling. Federal Economics Minister Habeck questions the debt rule with renewed vehemence - and attacks opposition leader Friedrich Merz.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck denies the debt brake's right to exist in its current form. "With the debt brake as it is, we have voluntarily tied our hands behind our backs and this is how we are going into the boxing match," said Habeck at the start of the Greens' federal party conference in Karlsruhe. "The others have horseshoes wrapped around their hands and we don't even have our hands free," said Habeck, referring to the massive investment programs in the USA and China. "It's clear how this will end."
A debt brake that makes investment impossible would prevent climate protection and endanger the German economy. "The debt rules are rigid, but we need them to be tough and persistent," said Habeck. At the same time, the Vice-Chancellor assured that the Greens were not questioning the coalition agreement of the traffic light alliance. In it, the FDP has anchored the unchanged continuation of the debt brake. "Of course I stand by our coalition agreement," said Habeck. Nevertheless, we need to "think about it".
"Groko has brought Germany into this situation"
Habeck also sharply attacked CDU chairman and Union parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz. After the ruling on the debt brake was announced, Merz "rejoiced" that from now on transformation would only take place through technology. The CDU/CSU is thus refusing to face reality, because Germany's competitors are investing massively in future technologies. "It is simply wrong to get bogged down in abstract principles, blind to the world as it is, with your eyes only open to what you would like to have," Habeck said of Merz.
The CDU is experiencing a "crisis of conservatism" because it cannot find answers to the challenges of the present. The CDU is "a party of yesterday, led by a chairman from the day before yesterday", said Habeck. Germany's problems were the result of the CDU/CSU's long period in government. "The Grand Coalition's denial of reality has brought Germany into this situation," said Habeck. "Always just empty phrases without consequences and now, of all things, the grand coalition is supposed to be the new blockbuster?" In a survey commissioned by RTL and ntv last week, a majority of 55% were in favor of switching to a grand coalition of SPD and CDU/CSU instead of the traffic light system.
Where will 60 billion come from?
"There is wave after wave and crisis after crisis and we are keeping Germany on course, again and again," said Habeck to prolonged applause. "Let's fight for a society that is capable of finding new solutions to its contradictions. Our ideology is called reality." The former party chairman's speech was clearly aimed at encouraging the unsettled party to continue its participation in the federal government, despite difficult compromises and self-doubt. Habeck bowed to the delegates, who clapped for several minutes.
At the same time, Habeck was unable or unwilling to explain how the federal government intends to implement the plans for climate protection and the restructuring of industry without the 60 billion euros that are now missing. The Federal Constitutional Court had declared the transfer of the special debts incurred during the coronavirus pandemic to the Climate and Transformation Fund to be unconstitutional. The SPD and Greens would need the votes of the CDU/CSU to reform the debt brake. In addition, the FDP has so far also rejected opening up the debt rule for investments. Habeck said nothing about possible austerity measures to take the missing funds from the regular budget.
Nouripour thanks Lindner
Party leader Omid Nouripour, who is seeking re-election together with Ricarda Lang tomorrow (Friday), spoke before Habeck. "It cannot be that an opposition wants the defeat of the government more than the success of the country," Nouripour criticized the Union's handling of the ruling from Karlsruhe. "Of course we have to reform the debt brake," Nouripour also demanded. He said he was "very grateful" to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner for suspending the debt brake for the current year. Theoretically, the federal government could also declare an emergency in the coming year. Habeck and Nouripour did not make any demands to this effect - at least at the party conference.
The Greens are still meeting at their federal delegates' conference until Sunday. In addition to debates on current issues such as the debt brake ruling, the Middle East conflict and migration policy, the delegates also want to decide on their European election program and elect candidates for the European elections next spring.
- The debt rule, currently in its rigorous form, according to Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck, has unintentionally tied the hands of Germany in economic matters, making significant investment in areas like climate protection impossible.
- In his critique of the opposition leader Friedrich Merz, Habeck suggested that the CDU's strict adherence to principles and neglect of global realities could lead to Germany's behind-the-times competitors taking advantage.
- Omid Nouripour, the party leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, praised Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner for temporarily suspending the debt brake, thereby temporarily alleviating the financial constraints on the federal government.
- The narrow victory of the traffic light coalition in the 2021 German federal election has been challenged by a majority of 55% in a recent survey, suggesting support for a grand coalition of the SPD and CDU/CSU instead.
- The German Federal Constitutional Court's decision to declare unconstitutional the transfer of special debts incurred during the coronavirus pandemic to the Climate and Transformation Fund has left the government in a quandary, as they must either implement austerity measures or seek the agreement of the CDU/CSU and FDP to amend the debt brake.
Source: www.ntv.de
