Budget 2024 - Klingbeil: Decision in budget crisis still this year
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil expects a "political clarification" of the budget crisis before the end of the year. Even though Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) are currently negotiating a solution: "In the end, it is clear that it is not up to the three of them, but rather the parties, the parliamentary groups must decide together with the government. That's why the coalition committee comes in at the end," Klingbeil emphasized on the ARD programme "maischberger".
"This is the biggest domestic political crisis that this coalition has to overcome," said the SPD leader. Klingbeil cited the renewed declaration of an emergency situation due to the war in Ukraine as a possible way to prepare the budget for the coming year following the Karlsruhe ruling: "We are not in a normal situation as far as the situation in Ukraine is concerned. I want the support to continue. And this is a point where we as the SPD say that we can imagine resolving this situation."
Time is running out
SPD budget politician Andreas Schwarz told the newspapers of the Bavarian Media Group that he personally believes "that it will come down to a provisional budget". This means that the budget will not be adopted until the new year - then a provisional budget would initially apply at the beginning of January, with only necessary expenditure permitted. "All I know is that there will be calm between December 24 and 26. What happens next is still open," said Schwarz. He criticized the appearance of the traffic light coalition. "That's our big problem, there's a lot of room for improvement - even with the chancellor."
A fundamental political agreement is a prerequisite for all further steps. And time is running out for that too. The chancellor's and ministers' calendars are full - even if Habeck has decided not to travel to the World Climate Conference in Dubai this week. Lindner is expected to attend the meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels on Thursday afternoon. From Friday, the SPD will then meet for its three-day federal party conference - Scholz is due to speak there on Saturday.
Hole of 17 billion euros
The pressure has arisen as a result of the Karlsruhe budget ruling. Germany's highest court declared a reallocation in the budget null and void. As a result, there is not only a shortfall of 60 billion euros that had been budgeted over four years for climate protection projects and the modernization of the economy. The ruling also had an impact on various credit-financed special funds, as it is now clear that the federal government may not set aside emergency loans for later years. As a result, there is a gaping hole of 17 billion euros in next year's budget.
A special session of the Bundesrat on the supplementary budget for 2023 is initially planned for Thursday (09:30). The federal states will give their opinion, but no decision is planned.
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Source: www.stern.de
