Germany’s FDP Faction Unwilling to Discuss Debt Brake Reform
Following the suggestion by CDU chief Friedrich Merz to still push for a debt brake reform with the old German parliament, the departing FDP faction in the Bundestag has shown no willingness to engage in discussions. “We will stick to our stance on the debt brake, it is not negotiable for us” said Stephan Thomae, the parliamentary business manager of the FDP faction in the Bundestag, to the newspapers of the Mediengruppe Bayern.
“We are not open to negotiations on this issue. In a phase of great international uncertainty, we should focus on ensuring the economic stability of the European continent. With the introduction of more debt, the stability of the European economic area is at risk” Thomae warned. Merz had on Monday put forward the idea of speaking with the factions of SPD, the Greens and the FDP from the old Bundestag again on financing issues for the German military.
“I find it questionable that Friedrich Merz is pursuing such far-reaching topics like a change to the debt brake or a special fund for the German military, before he has even taken office in government” said Thomae. A two-thirds majority is needed to reform the debt brake or make exceptions to it for the creation of credit-financed special funds. However, the votes of CDU/CSU, SPD and the Greens in the newly elected parliament are no longer sufficient for this.
The FDP is no longer a part of the future Bundestag. For the Liberals, the decision of the outgoing parliament is also a question of legitimacy: “After the election results from Sunday, it is a matter of respect for the voter for the FDP not to participate in such far-reaching decisions before the new Bundestag convenes” said Thomae.
He also stated, “The special fund of 2022 was decided because of the unexpected situation resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which required the need for action. That is not the case now, everything is calculable. More money for the German military should thus be covered in the budget and not through new debt, which would be the tax increases of tomorrow.