A German Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, has expressed disappointment over the lack of interest from Friedrich Merz, a CDU representative, in reforming the debt brake mechanism. Özdemir, who is also the Green Party’s candidate for the upcoming Baden-Württemberg state election, believes a constitutional amendment is necessary to address the challenges of the coming years.
According to Özdemir, the new federal government will face significant costs for defense due to the changed Ukraine policy of the US and the country also needs investments in its infrastructure. However, the minister claims that the necessary funds are not available. He warns that, in the upcoming legislative period, a coalition of the AfD and the Left could block any attempts to reform the debt brake mechanism, leading to a potential minority government.
Özdemir urges the CDU to work together to find a solution and believes that the role of the opposition in Germany will fundamentally change in the future. He emphasizes the importance of the opposition supporting the federal government, “out of patriotism, for the country.” If the current legislative period fails to produce results, Özdemir fears that the AfD could gain a majority in the next election.