Berlin, Germany – Several Social Democratic Party (SPD) state premiers have called for a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s debt rules, as the negotiations on the black-red soundings began on Friday in Berlin.
According to the Tagesspiegel, the Bremen Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte said, “It’s time for the Union to give up its party-tactical resistance against the reform of the debt brake and face the real challenges.”
The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister-President Manuela Schwesig emphasized the need for a quick reform, as Germany is already struggling to fulfill its responsibilities in the areas of economy, security and infrastructure. “I am open to bringing it on the way quickly” she said.
The Saarland Minister-President Anke Rehlinger also called for a comprehensive package that addresses the challenges and has the necessary majorities. She referred to the Federation of German Industry’s figures on the investment needs of 400 billion euros, which she believes goes beyond the defense sector and includes the economy, infrastructure and security.
Both Rehlinger and the Rhineland-Palatinate Regierungschef Alexander Schweitzer criticized the time pressure that the Union’s Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz had put the country in by refusing the reform before the federal election. “A modernization of the debt brake was on the table for months and I myself have repeatedly pointed out that in the next federal parliament, a two-thirds majority may no longer be available” Rehlinger explained.
Schweitzer accused Merz of “showing little civic responsibility” by initially opposing talks on more debt and then making a 180-degree turn after the election because he knew the reform was necessary to boost the economy, build infrastructure and secure defense.
A range of CDU-led state governments declined to comment further on the ongoing negotiations. “It’s certain that the financial situation of the federal government, the states and the municipalities needs to be discussed” said the Saxony Regierungschef Michael Kretschmer, who currently chairs the conference of the state premiers, to the Tagesspiegel. He had always supported conditional special funds, but did not want to commit to further talks before the negotiations. “Thoroughness also comes before speed in this matter” he said.