coalition
Dobrindt does not expect a budget decision until February
Alexander Dobrindt questions the government’s timetable for the budget decision. photo
© Melissa Erichsen/dpa
The traffic light coalition continues to argue about the budget for the coming year. The chairman of the CSU MPs questions the government’s schedule – and attacks one minister in particular.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt does not expect that the Bundestag will be able to pass a regular budget for 2024 by the beginning of February, as planned by the traffic light government.
“The schedule is completely unrealistic. The traffic light is once again completely divided,” said the chairman of the CSU representatives in the Bundestag to the German Press Agency in Berlin. Dobrindt added: “The traffic light tricksters, deceivers and sleight of hand want to deceive each other. And that’s why a 2024 budget will not work in February next year.”
Sharp criticism of Lindner
According to the federal government’s plans, the Bundestag’s budget committee is scheduled to vote on the changes and planned cuts in the federal government’s draft budget in mid-January. A budget week and the final budget resolution in the Bundestag are planned at the end of January. The budget could therefore be passed by the Federal Council at the beginning of February.
Dobrindt expressed sharp criticism of Federal Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner. “I am disappointed that the FDP is not the corrective to left-green ideology.” Rather, the FDP – formerly the Union’s favorite government partner – will “also reinforce these nonsense projects with increases in taxes and burdens.” The finance minister “is acting as a financial shill by saying that he wants to change the fluctuation range of the debt brake,” said Dobrindt. “This is nothing other than lowering the debt brake in order to incur more debt.”
If the traffic light coalition decides on a budget emergency for Ukraine aid in 2024 and loosens the debt brake, the Union faction will take a close look at the justification, said Dobrindt. “If there is any indication that this decision is unconstitutional, we will of course take legal action against it.” He said: “One has to assume again that the public is being fooled here.”
Special Fund and Ukraine Support
Dobrindt also expressed his opposition to possible special funds anchored in the Basic Law. “Some are crying out for special debts for Ukraine, others for special debts for the climate, and others for special debts for investments.”
He emphasized: “With us there will be no decisions that have the sole purpose of leaving the senseless financing of the traffic light unaffected.” Anyone who wants to make decisions with the Union about the 2024 budget “must first stop left-green ideological projects such as the heating law. This costs the federal government and taxpayers billions and hardly brings any ecological benefit.”
With regard to Ukraine support, Dobrindt said that Kiev most urgently needs weapons. “To this day, the traffic light government is blocking the delivery of long-range Taurus cruise missiles.” The first thing is to make a “clear commitment that I really want to provide more support to Ukraine.”
Decisions would then have to be made as to whether additional financing was necessary. “I am convinced that a federal budget with a volume of almost 500 billion euros next year will still offer enough opportunities to organize more funding for Ukraine while avoiding nonsensical projects,” said Dobrindt.