FDP Chairman Christian Lindner has called for a reduction in the federal government and the consolidation of ministries. “The government must become slimmer and more agile” he told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (Wednesday edition).
“The level of under-department heads in the ministries can completely be eliminated. These are good people, but we need more tempo” said the former Finance Minister. Even the central departments, responsible for personnel, IT, and procurement, “could be bundled in a single central department for all ministries” said the FDP leader.
“All digital responsibilities, from infrastructure to start-ups, should be combined in a ministry. The Foreign Office and development aid could be merged” said the liberal.
Lindner repeated his call for “disruption”. About the Argentine President Milei, he said: “Our country can no longer afford arrogance, we must learn from others. If Milei operates with a chainsaw, we in Germany should at least put away the file.”
To adhere to the debt brake, Lindner, if he were to re-join the federal government, expects savings: “Billions can be mobilized through better incentives and steering in the area of the citizen’s allowance and the economic consequences of irregular migration” claimed Lindner.
“The German goal of being climate-neutral by 2045 achieves nothing for the world climate and destroys our capital stock. 2050, the European climate goal, is ambitious enough and would allow for billions in additional value creation from investments that would not have to be scrapped prematurely” said the former Minister.
“It would also be much lower public subsidies needed, which could be used for investments. I defend myself against this ‘either debt brake or investments’. Behind this is only the cowardice of not taking necessary decisions and setting priorities” said Lindner.