The German Greens have highlighted a significant gap of 150 billion euros in the federal budget, despite the planned new debt of 850 billion euros by 2029.
According to the Greens’ budget spokesperson, Sebastian Schäfer, the government plans to incur new debt of around 850 billion euros by 2029, while shifting programs from the core budget to special funds. However, the government’s own financial plan remains unbalanced, Schäfer told the Rheinische Post.
The Greens point out that behind the seemingly innocuous term “need for action” lies a massive hole in the future federal budget. By 2027, a shortage of 22 billion euros is expected and by 2029, the gap is estimated to total nearly 150 billion euros.
Schäfer criticized the government, saying that, as often with black-red coalitions, the problems are only being postponed, not solved. The coalition seems to be applying the same principle to the budget as to climate protection and social justice: hoping for a solution rather than taking action.