Budget dispute - SPD leadership: Members' petition on the budget inadmissible
The SPD leadership considers the membership initiative of the left faction group "Forum DL21" regarding the federal budget 2025 to be inappropriate. "The review according to the SPD statutes has shown that a membership initiative, which calls on SPD Bundestag members to only approve a budget bill under certain conditions, is not legally permissible," the party presidium stated on Monday. "Budget legislation lies exclusively with the German Bundestag and the freely elected deputies and therefore cannot be negotiated in a membership initiative."
The left faction group "Forum DL21" had submitted a membership initiative to the party executive board in mid-June, which in the ongoing negotiations for the federal budget 2025 argues against cuts, especially in the areas of Social, Health, Youth, Family, Education, Democracy and Development Cooperation. The paper sets out: "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."
Warning against austerity budget
Under the title "Let's not erase our democracy, invest in our future!": "Austerity budget would mean a ghost ride in economic, ecological and democratic terms." The paper concludes with an appeal: "The party calls on SPD Bundestag members to approve a budget only under these conditions."
The Jusos, who represent a quarter of the Bundestag deputies, have supported the membership initiative. It is possible to legally challenge the party leadership's decision.
For the initiation of a membership initiative, the support of one percent of SPD members in at least ten districts from at least three federal states is required. That is currently about 4,000 members who would have to declare their support online within a month. However, the first step towards this, following the party leadership's decision, is not yet possible.
In a second step, 20 percent of the members must agree within three months, which is approximately 76,000. The party executive board must then declare whether it agrees - otherwise, there will be a membership vote.
- Despite the SPD leadership considering the left faction group's request for membership regarding the federal budget 2025 inappropriate, the Jusos, consisting of a quarter of the Bundestag deputies, have expressed their support for the initiative.
- The SPD parliamentary group is currently engaged in a budget dispute with the coalition government over finances for the upcoming federal budget 2025, with emphasis on areas like Social, Health, Education, and Democracy.
- The proposal from the left faction group "Forum DL21" for the federal budget 2025 advocates against cuts in these areas, requesting budget allocations to remain the same as the previous year and significant investments in affordable housing, sustainable infrastructure, municipalities, and climate protection.
- The membership initiative submitted by the left faction group calls on SPD Bundestag members to approve the budget bill only under specific conditions, a stance that the party presidium believes cannot be legally permissible.
- Berlin, hosting the German Bundestag, plays a crucial role in these budget negotiation discussions, with the democratic process emphasizing the German legislators' right to independently decide on budget legislation.
- The SPD, as a key player in German democracy, is expected to uphold its principles during the budget negotiation process, balancing finances without compromising on critical areas such as Democracy, Social, Health, Education, and Climate Protection.
