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SPD and IG Metall in Bavaria want to relax the debt brake

The CDU/CSU has so far clearly opposed any change to the debt brake. However, there are also increasing calls for reform in Bavaria.

View of the newly renovated plenary chamber of the Bavarian state parliament. (to dpa "State....aussiedlerbote.de
View of the newly renovated plenary chamber of the Bavarian state parliament. (to dpa "State Parliament meets for the last time before the Christmas break") Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

Finances - SPD and IG Metall in Bavaria want to relax the debt brake

The IG Metall trade union in Bavaria and the SPD parliamentary group in the Bavarian state parliament are calling for the debt brake to be relaxed at federal level and then also in Bavaria. The debt brake is the cause of the investment backlog in roads, railways, bridges, schools and housing construction, said IG Metall district manager Horst Ott in Munich on Thursday. SPD parliamentary group leader Florian von Brunn also believes that an intelligent reform is needed to put Germany and Bavaria in a good position for the future.

Von Brunn emphasized that the necessary improvements could not be paid for out of petty cash. Investments are important for maintaining jobs in industry, for the energy transition with the expansion of wind power, power lines and geothermal energy and for the renovation of the railroads. Subsidies for lower energy prices also make sense. "Credit-financed public investment in good infrastructure and future technologies is worthwhile because it leads to more growth and prosperity."

The debt brake prevents Germany and Bavaria from tackling the gigantic challenges, said Ott. "It is slowing down economic growth and burdening future generations with the follow-up costs. The debt brake therefore creates debt - that is absurd." The country is at a crossroads: "Either we invest massively in the transformation of industry now and thus secure our prosperity, or we prefer to make savings and watch sadly as industry moves away and jobs are lost."

The CSU and the CDU are categorically against any changes to the debt brake. Without the votes of the CDU/CSU, however, the necessary two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat for a constitutional amendment cannot be achieved.

Although Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) rejects a fundamental reform of the debt brake, he recently announced plans for a partial reform in the coming year. Due to the gigantic German national debt, the debt brake was enshrined in the Basic Law in 2009.

Read also:

  1. The SPD and IG Metall in other German states might also advocate for relaxating the debt brake, following the lead of Bavaria.
  2. In the upcoming negotiations, metalworkers' union ig metal from Munich will strongly push for relaxing the debt brake to improve Germany's and Bavaria's finances.
  3. Florian von Brunn, an SPD leader from Bavaria, stresses the need for a balanced approach in loosening the debt brake, ensuring Germany's and Bavaria's long-term financial stability.
  4. Relaxing the debt brake could provide opportunities for Germany and Bavaria to reduce energy costs and support future projects in industries like metal manufacturing and renewable energy.
  5. The discussions about relaxing the debt brake will include the participation of various political parties, trade unions like ig metal, and financial experts, all focusing on the future of Germany's debt management.
  6. Critics argue that loosening the debt brake could bring about additional debt, but proponents like Florian von Brunn believe it is a wise investment in Germany's and Bavaria's economic growth and job creation.

Source: www.stern.de

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