Following pressure from Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) regarding the reform of Germany’s debt brake, as stipulated in the coalition agreement, the Left party has indicated a willingness to engage in discussions. Dietmar Bartsch, the parliamentary group’s spokesperson for budgetary policy, stated in an interview with the “Rheinische Post” that the Left party anticipates formal consultations on the matter.
Bartsch emphasized the pressing need for the reform, clarifying that its purpose is not to enable unlimited investment in defense spending but rather to safeguard social cohesion. He stressed that fulfilling the commitments outlined in the coalition agreement is essential to ensure the constitutional debt brake can be reformed with a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.
The governing coalition requires the support of both the Green party and the Left party to amend the debt brake, which is enshrined in the German constitution.
