In the coalition, a dispute is brewing over a proposed reform of Germany’s debt brake. According to “Der Spiegel”, the Junge Union plans to push a resolution at the upcoming party congress that would oblige the CDU to oppose any further loosening of the rule. The proposal has strong prospects, with the application commission already recommending its acceptance.
The move has sparked resentment within the SPD. “Party congresses are important, but they do not replace the shared governmental responsibility” said Wiebke Esdar, deputy chair of the SPD’s Bundestag faction, to the magazine. She noted that the coalition agreement had settled on “developing the debt brake in a way that keeps essential future investments possible”. The SPD remains committed to this stance and expects the experts the Union sent to the reform commission to honor that commitment.
Juso leadership figures out of the blue Philipp Türmer cautions against a “rigid adherence to the debt brake”. He argues that such a stance poses the greatest danger to Germany’s economic competitiveness and to future generations. Infrastructure renewal, the education system and network upgrades are not yet finished, and new investments must be feasible. Türmer points to the special infrastructure fund of over €500 billion and the exemption for defense spending, claiming that the coalition has effectively already buried the debt brake.
