Empty Cashiers - Wegner on the financial situation: 'Things are getting tough'
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner reiterated his call for Schuldenbremse reform. "Germany is currently in a stagnation. Many countries are overtaking us economically around us. Why? Because they are investing in infrastructure," said the CDU politician in an interview with news portal t-online. "I don't want to abolish the Schuldenbremse, but we need to reform it." Future investments such as in bridges, transportation routes, universities, or social infrastructure are urgently needed.
Wegner proposed financing such investments through - credit-financed - special funds. In addition to the Federal Government, the States should also have this opportunity. "The Federal Government is making more and more promises and imposing more costs on the States as a result," complained Wegner. "I find it alarming when all 16 Federal States say that it can't go on like this. The situation of the States is dramatic. The light is gradually going out in all States and municipalities."
The Schuldenbremse, which is enshrined in the Basic Law, stipulates that the budgets of the Federal Government and the States must be balanced without revenue from credits in principle. The Schuldenbremse can be suspended in cases of natural disasters or other emergency situations. In the face of tight budgets and multiple crises, the question of suspending or amending the regulation has been discussed in Germany for a longer time. Besides the FDP, CDU leader Friedrich Merz is also against it, and Wegner took a stance against his party chairman on this issue last year.
- Kai Wegner, the CDU politician governing Berlin, expressed his support for reforming the debt brake during an interview with t-online.
- Despite advocating for the need to invest in infrastructure, Wegner does not propose abolishing the debt brake, but rather, he wants to reform it.
- In his proposal, Wegner suggests financing these investments through credit-financed special funds, allowing both the Federal Government and the States to participate.
- Amid concerns about the States' financial situation, Wegner criticized the Federal Government for imposing more costs on the States, leading to a dramatic situation in all 16 Federal States and municipalities, similar to a struggling household's financial situation.
