Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner wants to get out of the Corona crisis mode in the next few years.
Despite the supplementary budget for 2021, the possible debt framework will not be fully exhausted, but will be undercut by 24.8 billion euros, said the FDP chairman on Friday in the Bundestag.
The planned new debt for 2021 has so far been 240 billion euros - more than ever before.
“So we are doing what is necessary, but we are not exhausting what is possible.” The state must create leeway again in order to be able to act in the next crisis.
Lindner confirmed that he wanted to comply with the debt brake, which is anchored in the Basic Law but suspended during the pandemic, from 2023 onwards. "In the years that follow, my goal is to reduce the German debt ratio." Debt levels rose sharply worldwide in 2020. In Germany, billions were invested in economic aid to combat the crisis, while at the same time tax revenues collapsed.
In the meantime, however, the situation has improved again.
The German economy grew by 2.7 percent in 2021.
Tax revenue is also increasing again.
With the supplementary budget for 2021, the new traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP creates a climate reserve of 60 billion euros.
"We have to finance the economic recovery, we have to overcome the pandemic, we have to strengthen investments," said Lindner.
The traffic light is open for relief for citizens and companies.
"There will be no tax increases."
The CDU and AfD criticized the supplementary budget as unconstitutional because credit authorizations for the pandemic are to be reallocated and now used for climate investments.
They asked Lindner to withdraw the supplementary budget.