Kühnert sees danger of new elections averted
The French elections, according to SPD General Secretary Kühnt, have significantly contributed to the fiscal compromise of the traffic light coalition from the perspective of the SPD. Germany should remain an anchor of stability in Europe. This was clear to all parties.
SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnt sees the traffic light coalition after the fiscal compromise as strengthened. There will not be "new election scenarios" from the Union, he said on WDR. The agreement of the coalition leaders was "quite useful" and will not cause new conflict between the SPD, Greens, and FDP as CDU Chief Friedrich Merz had predicted. "We will not give him that pleasure."
Kühnt did not rule out that without a fiscal compromise, elections could have been a possibility. However, he had always felt that all three partners were determined to ensure the success of this budget draft, despite all disagreements. "I always had the firm feeling that all three partners wanted this budget proposal to succeed."
The strong election results of the right-wing populists in the advanced parliamentary elections in France, according to Kühnt, further reinforced this will. In France, President Emmanuel Macron had "lost his nerves" after the European elections, said the SPD General Secretary. For the traffic light partners, it was then clear: "Germany should not also chaos, when so many countries around us are on fire."
"A Budget of Both-And"
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finance Minister Christian Lindner, and Economics Minister Robert Habeck achieved a breakthrough in their long-term negotiations on the budget 2025 and a growth package on Friday. FDP leader Lindner was able to push through that the debt brake is maintained, which the SPD had demanded to suspend.
The SPD continues to advocate for an exception to the debt brake in the budget due to the Ukraine war, said Kühnt. However, "many other ways" were found in the budget negotiations "to mobilize additional funds." He referred to the plan to finance additional investments in the railway through loans that would not be counted against the debt brake.
In times of financially limited resources, "no budget of either-or, but a budget of both-and" has emerged, said Kühnt. The "traffic light" coalition did not have to decide between external security and social security. So, aid for Ukraine was secured, while families with children and schools were supported, and employees were relieved of income tax.
- SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert praised the usefulness of the coalition leaders' agreement, stating that it prevented new conflicts between the SPD, Greens, and FDP, as predicted by CDU Chief Friedrich Merz.
- In the budget negotiations for 2025 and a growth package, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finance Minister Christian Lindner, and Economics Minister Robert Habeck achieved a breakthrough, with Lindner successfully maintaining the debt brake.
- Kühnt acknowledged that the SPD continues to advocate for an exception to the debt brake due to the Ukraine war, but mentioned that other ways were found to mobilize additional funds for investments, such as financing additional railway investments through loans that would not count against the debt brake.
- The "traffic light" coalition, according to Kühnt, has presented a "budget of both-and" in times of financially limited resources, ensuring aid for Ukraine while also supporting families with children and schools and relieving employees of income tax.
- Kühnt referred to the French elections, stating that the strong results of the right-wing populists reinforced the coalition partners' determination to ensure Germany remains an anchor of stability in Europe and prevent chaos, given the instability in other countries.
