Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has defended the planned billions in the budget restructuring against sharp criticism.
"It is by no means about financing general projects of the traffic light coalition," he emphasized on Thursday in the Bundestag.
Instead, he gives a clear promise that the money will only be used to cushion the damage caused by the corona pandemic.
Due to the crisis, many investments were not possible recently, which now urgently need to be made up.
"We mustn't lose time with the transformation due to the pandemic," said Lindner.
The finance minister is therefore planning to reallocate EUR 60 billion in loans in the budget so that they do not expire at the end of the year, but can continue to be used in the years to come.
The loans approved for 2021 but not used are to be put on the high edge in a climate and transformation fund, so to speak.
The money will then be used for climate protection and digitization.
The opposition considers the move to be unconstitutional because money that was approved to fight the corona crisis is to be used for climate protection and other projects.
"In a miraculous change, Corona loans become climate loans," said Union housekeeper Christian Haase.
The Union parliamentary group wants to have the budget examined by the Federal Constitutional Court.