The Junge Union opposes any further loosening of Germany’s debt brake. In a motion for the upcoming party conference-reported by “Der Spiegel”-the Union says that modernising the rule, as outlined in the coalition agreement with the SPD, must not lead to additional easing. Before any new borrowing by the federal government or the states can be discussed, evidence must be presented that the billions already in debt are being used for investment rather than consumer spending. Only then can a fair burden be shifted onto younger generations.
The motion also argues that the old Bundestag’s exemption for defence spending and the €500 billion special fund for infrastructure already contradict the Union’s campaign promises and the CDU’s core programme. Further relaxation would only heighten the contradiction and undermine the principle of intergenerational justice.
JU leader Johannes Winkel told “Der Spiegel” that the coalition has set up many commissions on key issues, but that binding decisions have only been made on new debt. “The coalition now needs to focus on passing and implementing reforms” he said. He added that the debt‑breach commission should demonstrate how the already approved special borrowing will be directed toward future‑oriented investments.
The CDU’s draft commission will examine roughly 300 proposals-according to party circles-ahead of the federal conference in Stuttgart at the end of February. It will issue recommendations on which topics the delegates should debate.
