A debate has arisen within Germany’s governing coalition regarding the utilization of funds earmarked for infrastructure development. Tim Klüssendorf, General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), strongly refuted criticism leveled by the Green Party concerning the government’s budgetary policy.
Klüssendorf emphasized that the government is making unprecedented investments, exceeding €115 billion – a 55% increase compared to the previous year. He described these as record investments urgently needed for the nation and stated that this level would serve as a benchmark for future years. He pointed to deteriorating roads and bridges, alongside the pressing need for renovations in schools and childcare facilities, as evidence of the significant investment backlog that the coalition is now addressing. “This backlog of renovations is the true debt of our society” Klüssendorf stated, adding that such progress would not have been possible without the SPD’s involvement.
The Green Party had previously accused the coalition and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) specifically, of allocating only a small portion of the €500 billion infrastructure special fund towards new investments. Andreas Audretsch, a parliamentary group vice president for the Greens, alleged that the government was employing accounting maneuvers between the core budget and the special fund, adding “no added value” to the desperately needed investments. The Greens had insisted upon the principle of “additionality” during the establishment of the fund last March to guarantee that the borrowed funds were deployed for supplementary investments.
Klüssendorf dismissed these accusations as unfounded and criticized the Greens for what he described as unsubstantiated arguments. He asserted that the investment ratio within the budget remains above 10%, precisely as agreed with the Greens when the special fund was established. He characterized the Green Party’s criticisms as a standard practice of opposition.
Despite this disagreement, Klüssendorf urged the Green Party to avoid obstruction in tackling upcoming challenges and to take pride in the fact that, thanks to the jointly agreed upon special fund, Germany is finally beginning to modernize its infrastructure.