coalition
Dürr: Firm will to remain in the federal government
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr. photo
© Melissa Erichsen/dpa
Given the unresolved budget dispute, how closed is the traffic light really? The FDP parliamentary group leader is confident about a member survey in his party.
According to Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr has also made a clear commitment to his party remaining in the traffic light coalition. He was responding to speculation that the FDP could consider leaving the government in view of the unresolved budget dispute.
When asked about an initiative that calls for a member survey about whether the FDP should remain in government, Dürr said on Deutschlandfunk that the hurdles in the party for such a survey were low. But: “My firm wish is that we continue to be part of a federal government that continues to shape things.” Germany is on course for reform, including when it comes to consolidating public finances. “And we shouldn’t abandon this course. If the FDP wasn’t there, things would look different in Germany, we would probably have debt levels that were similar to those in Corona times and that would be wrong.”
Dürr: Find a solution calmly
The traffic light coalition is struggling to plug a 17 billion euro hole in the 2024 budget and to enable billions in investments in climate protection and the modernization of the economy over the next few years. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) postponed their talks in the Chancellery on Sunday evening. Initially nothing was known about what happened.
Dürr was optimistic that the budget gap could be closed. It’s about finding a solution calmly. “Nothing is at risk, everything that is already there in terms of statutory benefits will be paid out on January 1st.” It would not be a problem if the federal budget was not decided until next year.
Wissing had already made a similar statement on Sunday evening. “The FDP wants to shape this country,” emphasized the FDP politician on ARD. He referred to an enormous investment backlog, for example in the railways. “We want to work through this, we want to move our country forward, we want to get Germany back on track for growth.” When asked: “In the government?” Wissing replied: “Absolutely.”