Sven Schulze, the Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt (CDU), has called on the black-and-red coalition government in Berlin to strengthen austerity measures. Speaking to the “Welt am Sonntag” Schulze emphasized that the debate around tax increases or new debt acquisitions should only take place after a serious discussion about implementing savings.
Schulze specifically placed responsibility on Federal Minister of Finance and SPD Deputy Leader Lars Klingbeil, urging the SPD to finally engage in a candid internal debate about the state’s financial capacity. He added that the SPD must discuss these savings internally, just as the CDU/CSU must present genuine proposals for cuts before discussing measures like relaxing the debt brake.
The Prime Minister warned that the federal states can no longer absorb additional financial burdens resulting from decisions made at the federal level. Given that nearly all federal states, along with their counties, cities, and municipalities are under significant financial strain, Schulze stated clearly that the states cannot endorse or co-finance federal reforms that would impose millions of euros in extra costs on them.
Regarding pension reform, Schulze demanded that the unique situation of Eastern Germans be taken into account. He noted that in Eastern Germany, 80 percent of people rely exclusively on state pensions for retirement, a situation he expects will not change in the coming years. Although he is not a pension expert, he vowed to meticulously ensure that the interests of East Germans are protected during the reform process. He recommended that the federal government include all state prime ministers in these discussions, arguing that any successful, majority-supported pension reform requires the close involvement of the federal states, especially those in the East.
