The leaders of the traffic light discussed how to proceed in the budget crisis – probably without deciding anything concrete. Finance Minister Lindner puts the budget gap for 2024 at 17 billion euros.
After the coalition committee meeting there is talk of a “polite group” on the current situation and of a good political exchange. The atmosphere was objective and constructive; there were no concrete decisions. At least that’s what comes through from participants.
The leaders of the SPD, Greens and FDP met in the Chancellery in the evening and the meeting lasted less than two hours. The traffic light parties had already emphasized in advance that no decisions were planned. However, it should be about the timetable for how we can jointly draw up a budget for 2024 after the ruling from Karlsruhe.
Now apparently three-way talks are planned
Finance Minister Christian Lindner estimates the financial gap that must be closed for the 2024 budget at 17 billion euros. The FDP leader also told ZDF that he was not yet convinced that the conditions would be met to suspend the debt brake in 2024. But that’s what the SPD and the Greens are demanding.
Work on a solution will now apparently continue in three-way talks with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Lindner.