Bundesfinanzminister Under Fire for Unconventional Budgeting in Climate and Investment Funds
German government’s efforts to combat climate change and invest in the nation’s infrastructure are under scrutiny, with the opposition parties, the Greens and the Left, accusing the Finance Minister, Lars Klingbeil, of using unconventional bookkeeping methods to reallocate funds.
According to the Greens’ budget spokesperson, Sebastian Schäfer, the constitutional changes the party enabled require additional investments. “Therefore, it is unacceptable to use bookkeeping tricks to redirect investment funds, especially when it comes to climate protection” Schäfer emphasized.
Ines Schwerdtner, the leader of the Left party, criticized the Climate and Transformation Fund, saying it has become a “transit hub” for funds that are not being used for climate protection. “The Greens’ decision to support the special fund initiated by Friedrich Merz, in the hope of advancing climate protection, is now backfiring” Schwerdtner said. “More and more funds are being used for measures that have nothing to do with genuine climate protection. The Greens have been sold on warm words and then handed over the reins.”
The Finance Ministry sent a circular to the ministries at the start of the week, outlining the preparation of the federal budget for 2025. The circular proposes that planned investments in the special infrastructure fund and climate protection projects be reallocated to the Climate and Transformation Fund, thereby relieving the core budget.