Household
Esken wants to avert cuts in political education
SPD federal chairman Saskia Esken as a guest in the ARD summer interview. photo
© Joerg Carstensen/dpa
Finance Minister Lindner wants to cut the budget by 20 million euros for political education. The savings plans have met with criticism and a lack of understanding. SPD chairwoman Esken is now relying on “royal rights”.
Esken commented that the budget of the Federal Agency for Civic Education is to be reduced next year by 20 million to 76 million euros: “Of course it hurts.” Rather, one must see how one can strengthen the federal headquarters. But there are also other topics such as advising migrants. “I’m counting on the strength of Parliament,” emphasized Esken.
The SPD leader is also critical of planned cuts in the long-term unemployed. It is important that the necessary funds are raised by the Federal Employment Agency. She assumes that the Bundestag will equip them accordingly. The Bundestag will begin deliberations on the 2024 federal budget in the week of September 4th.
Esken also believes that a reform of the debt brake is necessary. This should be reformed because it is currently hostile to investment. Then concepts will be developed. The SPD leader admitted, however, that such a reform is a long way off because a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat would be necessary.
The debt brake anchored in the Basic Law stipulates that the budgets of the federal and state governments are to be balanced without income from loans. There is, however, a leeway that for the federal government amounts to a maximum of 0.35 percent of gross domestic product. In the event of natural disasters or other emergencies, the debt brake can be suspended, which happened in 2020 and 2021 because of the corona pandemic.