The parliamentary leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Vice Chancellor, Lars Klingbeil, reaffirmed his commitment to the candidacy of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf for the Federal Constitutional Court and urged for a renewed vote within the Bundestag. Concerns raised by the opposition regarding alleged plagiarism accusations against Brosius-Gersdorf have, in Klingbeil’s view, been addressed, allowing for the resumption of the electoral process. He framed the situation as a matter of principle, questioning whether parliament should succumb to pressure from what he described as right-wing networks allegedly targeting a highly qualified female candidate.
Despite ongoing disagreements within the governing coalition concerning the Constitutional Court judge selection, Klingbeil emphasized a positive working relationship with Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). “I maintain a very close and trusting dialogue with the Chancellor” he stated. “We are in constant communication.
Acknowledging the challenging issues facing the black-red coalition, Klingbeil called for discipline and unity amongst members of parliament. “There will be difficult votes throughout the legislative period. The governing factions must stand together”. He indicated a desire to prioritize jobs, economic growth and reforms moving forward.
Klingbeil intensified the pressure on the CDU regarding the reform of the constitutional debt brake, a subject outlined in the coalition agreement. Given the need for support from the Green Party and the Left Party to amend the enshrined debt brake, some CDU politicians have distanced themselves from the proposal, notably with CSU leader Markus Söder rejecting collaborative efforts with the Left Party.
Klingbeil underscored the importance of adhering to the coalition agreement, insisting, “We agreed to reform the debt brake to allow for greater investment. I cannot imagine a party abandoning agreed-upon projects after only a few weeks.
The government has instructed Klingbeil, in his capacity as Finance Minister, to implement stringent austerity measures, particularly in light of looming budget deficits. “There’s a significant gap for 2027” Klingbeil explained. “Therefore, I’m issuing a clear directive to all ministries: Start now to identify areas for savings. Everyone will need to contribute.
As Finance Minister, Klingbeil also declared his intention to focus on combating tax fraud and the shadow economy, believing significant sums could be recovered. He drew a parallel with scrutiny of social welfare benefits, stating, “Just as we examine citizen’s income to ensure the system isn’t being exploited, we must also investigate whether individuals with considerable wealth are exploiting the tax system. It’s a question of fairness”.