Party presidency - SPD leadership: Members' petition on the budget inadmissible
The SPD leadership considers the member initiative of the left party members regarding the federal budget 2025 as invalid. "The examination according to the SPD statutes has shown that a member initiative that calls on SPD Bundestag fraction members to only approve a budget law under certain conditions is not legally permissible," it was stated from party circles after a meeting of the party presidium. "Budget legislation lies exclusively with the German Bundestag and the freely elected deputies and can therefore not be negotiated in a member initiative."
The left party faction "Forum DL21" submitted a member initiative in mid-June to the party executive, which in the ongoing negotiations for the federal budget 2025 argues against cuts, for example in the social sector. The paper sets out the following for the areas of Social Affairs, Health, Youth, Family, Education, Democracy and Development Cooperation: "The budget allocations of the affected ministries may not be reduced compared to the previous year. Instead, we need increases in these areas as well as significantly more investments in affordable housing, sustainable infrastructure, strong municipalities and ambitious climate protection."
The justification under the title "Let us not erase our democracy, let us invest in our future!" states: "Austerity budget would mean a ghost ship in economic, ecological and democratic terms." The paper concludes with an appeal: "The party calls on the SPD Bundestag fraction members to approve a budget only under these conditions."
- Despite the SPD's view on the left party's budget initiative as invalid, other parties in the Bundestag, such as the Greens and the Linke, have expressed support for its demands.
- The SPD parliamentary group has faced criticism from its own membership and external parties for its stance on the budget negotiation, with some suggesting that it is neglecting the importance of social sectors and democracy.
- In response to the left party's request for membership in the SPD parliamentary group, which was made in light of the budget dispute, the party leadership has yet to make a decision.
- The SPD parliamentary group's position on the budget negotiations is significant, as any coalition partner in Germany relies on the support of its own parliamentary group for the adoption of the budget law in the Bundestag.
- The ongoing budget negotiation in the Bundestag, particularly regarding social sectors and affordable housing, has sparked debates among Berlin households, with many expressing concerns about the impact of austerity measures on their finances.
- While the SPD leadership maintains that the German budget legislation lies exclusively with the Bundestag, some parties and advocacy groups argue that democratic considerations and public opinion should also play a role in the budget negotiation process.
