Senior CDU politician Mathias Middelberg has indicated that significant alterations to Germany’s debt brake are not deemed necessary. In an appearance on the “Berlin Playbook” podcast by Politico, Middelberg emphasized the unsustainability of relying on debt as a long-term solution. He cautioned against the temptation to continually accrue new debt, highlighting the need to resist such impulses.
A commission of experts is scheduled to commence work this Thursday, tasked with exploring potential reforms to the debt brake. Middelberg stated that, based on his current understanding, further modifications to the rule are not warranted. However, he acknowledged that expert discussions could lead to alternative assessments.
He suggested that reforms could potentially be implemented without requiring changes to Germany’s constitution. Middelberg referred to considerations previously proposed by the Expert Council, approximately eighteen months ago, focusing on the cyclical component of the debt brake. He noted that such adjustments could be achieved without amending the Basic Law.
