In the midst of a budget dispute over the 2025 budget, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner is calling for savings from various ministries. Lindner specifically criticizes the Foreign Office and the development ministry for their spending, urging them to focus on essentials. Lindner questions whether the projects funded by ministers Annalena Baerbock and Svenja Schulze are truly improving lives or serving German interests. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing security and supporting Ukraine for peace and freedom in Germany.
The coalition government faces challenging negotiations for the 2025 budget, with Lindner urging ministries to save while some, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Development Minister Svenja Schulze, are demanding more funding. Lindner paused the cabinet’s consideration of the agreed-upon second pension package, citing high demands from Labor Minister Hubertus Heil in the 2025 budget talks. He emphasizes the need for a budget agreement and economic turnaround for projects like the pension package to gain majority support in the Bundestag.
Lindner denies threatening to break the coalition but emphasizes the necessity of reaching an agreement on the budget and economic turnaround for future projects to succeed in parliament. He refrains from disclosing the total amount of demands, noting that some are not taken seriously as negotiation positions and that media speculation underestimates the figure. There is a significant budget gap for 2025, with estimates ranging from 15 to 30 billion euros. Lindner rejects Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ proposal to exempt defense spending and parts of crisis preparedness from the debt brake, warning that it could raise public debt and interest costs.
Lindner’s concerns extend to the potential impact on the coalition’s fundamental consensus if debates on defense spending continue, emphasizing the need to prioritize financial responsibility. He argues against financing defense and alliance protection through borrowing, as it could increase national debt and interest payments. Lindner’s stance reflects his commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline and ensuring that budget decisions align with economic realities. The ongoing negotiations highlight the challenges facing the coalition government in reconciling various demands and priorities within the 2025 budget. Lindner’s call for savings underscores the importance of responsible financial management to address key national and international priorities.
