Wegner on Merz criticism: Debt brake must be reformed
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner has responded to criticism from Friedrich Merz, the CDU's federal chairman, and repeated his call for a reform of the debt brake. "I have a clear stance", he told the magazine "Stern" (Tuesday). "The reform of the debt brake for future investments is urgently needed." Alluding to a comment made by his party leader, he added: "Incidentally, as the governing mayor, I am delighted when Berlin receives so much attention in the Bundestag."
Merz had said in the Bundestag on Tuesday that the CDU/CSU was against any form of softening the debt brake and indirectly criticized Wegner for his stance: Decisions on the debt brake would be made in the German Bundestag and not in Berlin City Hall.
Wegner, who is also the state chairman of the CDU in Berlin, has publicly defended his position on this issue on several occasions in the past, thus contradicting Merz. After the Senate meeting in the Rotes Rathaus on Tuesday, he pointed to difficult times in which many people were worried and afraid of high inflation and rising costs.
He recommended finding ways and means of keeping the federal budget stable. "You know my position on the debt brake," said Wegner and reiterated that he was in favor of reform. "I have nothing against debt brakes in principle, quite the opposite," said the CDU politician. "But especially in these times, I also need investment in the future."
Following the Karlsruhe budget ruling, there is a large gap in the budget. The Federal Constitutional Court had declared the reallocation of 60 billion euros in loans from the 2021 budget null and void. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) announced on Thursday that he would submit a supplementary budget for 2023 to the cabinet next week. According to his ministry, the government intends to propose to the Bundestag that an extraordinary emergency situation be declared, which would allow the debt brake to be suspended. This is intended to legally secure loans that have already been used this year.
- Despite Merz's opposition in the Bundestag, Wegner, as the CDU state chairman in Berlin, continues to advocate for a reform of the debt brake to facilitate future investments.
- The reform of the debt brake becomes a point of contention between Wegner and Merz, with the former emphasizing the need for investment while the latter maintains the CDU's stance against softening the debt brake.
- The Household Budgets Committee in the German Senate, chaired by Wegner, will likely discuss the Federal Government's proposed suspension of the debt brake due to the Karlsruhe budget ruling and the need for additional financing.
Source: www.dpa.com
