German AfD Party Challenges Government’s Plan to Amend Constitution
The AfD party has filed a constitutional complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court, challenging the government’s plan to amend the constitution and reform the debt brake. The move is seen as a last-ditch effort by the AfD to block the government’s plans, which they claim will lead to a massive increase in debt and a shift away from peace-time economic policies.
According to the AfD’s constitutional complaint, the planned amendments would allow the government to take on debt of up to one trillion euros, effectively bypassing the debt brake and putting the burden on future generations. The AfD argues that this would be a violation of the constitution and the rights of parliamentarians.
The government, comprising the CDU, SPD and Greens, has announced plans to hold special sessions of the old Bundestag to pass the necessary legislation. The AfD, however, claims that this would be a violation of the constitution, as the old Bundestag is only a caretaker government and lacks legitimacy.
The AfD’s complaint is based on the argument that the government is trying to ram through its policies without a new Bundestag, which would have a different composition and be more representative of the will of the people. The party’s leader, Christian Wirth, has stated that he will continue to fight against the government’s plans, saying that it is unacceptable for the government to use the old Bundestag to pass laws that will have a significant impact on the country’s future.
The government, on the other hand, has argued that the special sessions of the old Bundestag are necessary to pass the necessary legislation and that the AfD’s complaint is an attempt to block the will of the people. The government has also pointed out that the AfD’s complaint is based on a narrow interpretation of the constitution and that the planned amendments are necessary to address the country’s economic challenges.