Crisis in Germany: no budget resolution this year

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“Although we have done everything we can to achieve this, the budget for 2024 can no longer be decided on time this year,” the parliamentary manager of the largest coalition faction, Katja Mast, wrote in a text message to her group on Thursday. news agency present.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) still do not agree on a solution to the budget crisis, Mast wrote. But Scholz is “confident that a result can be achieved in the coming days.”

The leaders of the ‘traffic light coalition’ are struggling to figure out how to close a 17 billion euro hole in the budget. It was brought about, among other things, by the budget ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court. The highest German court had annulled a budget realignment. This means that not only are 60 billion euros missing, which were planned over four years for climate protection projects and the modernization of the economy. The judge’s ruling also affected several special funds financed by loans.

The ‘traffic light coalition’ originally planned to approve the budget for the coming year in the Bundestag before Christmas. Now it could lead to only the Bundestag’s budget committee completing its deliberations.

After a political agreement, he would probably interview experts again about the proposals. The so-called adjustment consultation would then have to be completed, which would actually tighten the budget. The Bundestag could meet in January for budget week, after which the Federal Council could consider the budget.

Until then, the so-called provisional budget management would apply. Then, for the time being, only the expenses necessary to keep the administration and meet legal obligations are possible.

(SDA)

Source: Blick