SPD leader Saskia Esken has spoken out in favor of not applying the debt brake requirements in the coming year either.

"I think we have to suspend the debt brake again," said Esken on Sunday in ZDF's "Summer Interview".

In view of the current crises, the federal government must “organize long-term relief,” she said.

The financial consequences of these crises are not yet foreseeable.

With her demand, Esken contradicted the coalition partner FDP, which is calling for a return to the debt brake for the coming year - the "traffic light" had also recorded this return in its coalition agreement.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) recently presented a draft budget for 2023 that is based on the rules of the debt brake.

Esken said that the Bundestag must now clarify in the upcoming budget deliberations whether this is really feasible.

In the interview, Esken rejected another concern of the FDP: the demand for tax cuts.

These are "not a method of relieving the population on a large scale," said the SPD leader.

“We have to find other ways.” High earners who pay a lot of taxes would benefit most from tax cuts.

"They serve little for middle-income earners, and they don't serve low-income people at all."

"There is cause for concern"

Regarding the current situation in view of inflation and the energy crisis, Esken said: "There is cause for concern." Above all, those on middle and low incomes needed further support.

The co-chair of the SPD gave a positive assessment of Consumer Protection Minister Steffi Lemke's (Greens) proposal for a moratorium on gas and electricity cuts.

"This is urgently needed," said Esken.

In the event of a further escalation of the energy crisis, Lemke had suggested protecting citizens from electricity and gas blockages in the event of late payment.

"In the event of an absolute crisis, the Federal Network Agency may allow energy companies to pass on increased prices to consumers despite a price guarantee," said the consumer protection minister.

In such a crisis situation, nobody should have their electricity or gas cut off because they are in arrears with a bill.

The debt brake laid down in the Basic Law states that the federal government may normally borrow up to a maximum of 0.35 percent of gross domestic product.

In addition, deviations are permitted to a limited extent “in the event of an economic development that deviates from the normal situation”.

For the years 2020 to 2022, the Bundestag saw such an emergency and decided to exempt it from the debt brake - the corona pandemic was the focus twice, this year also the Ukraine war.