The parliamentary group of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) has indicated uncertainty regarding the timeline and method of implementing reforms to Germany’s debt brake, officially known as the ‘Schuldenbremse’. Steffen Bilger, the parliamentary managing director of the CDU/CSU faction, stated in an interview that no agreement exists on how to achieve results in the Bundestag concerning this matter. He confirmed the establishment of a commission tasked with examining reforms to the debt brake.
Any substantial reform would necessitate an amendment to the Basic Law (Germany’s constitution), requiring the support of the Left Party (Die Linke) if votes from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) are to be avoided. Bilger emphasized that the CDU/CSU has not agreed to enter into negotiations with, or seek a majority alongside, Die Linke. He asserted that the final decision rests with the Bundestag and its members.
The governing coalition agreement addresses the reform of the debt brake, outlining plans to establish an expert commission involving the Bundestag and federal states to develop proposals for modernizing the rule. This modernization is intended to allow for sustained additional investment in strengthening the country. The agreement stipulates that the coalition intends to finalize legislation based on the commission’s findings by the end of 2025.