"Honesty over Hype": Günther Presses for Conservative-Left Dialogue on Debt Brake Reform
Discussions on debt-limit arrest initiated by Günther proposed with Left Party
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In light of the Union and SPD's plans to overhaul the debt brake, Daniel Günther, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President, is advocating for discussions with the Left Party. "The CDU/CSU must engage in conversations about debt brake reform with the Left Party - just like with the Greens," Günther said in a recent interview with "Tagesspiegel". "With the current votes in the Bundestag, the political center doesn't have a two-thirds majority."
Günther's comments come in the wake of the CDU's incompatibility resolution, passed at a party congress in December 2018. This resolution regulations out alliances and "similar forms of cooperation" not only with AfD, but also with the Left Party.
Though the Union, SPD, and Greens lack the two-thirds majority necessary for constitutional amendments, their exploratory paper discusses a general reform of the debt brake. Given this political stalemate, Günther emphasized the importance of transparency: "Don't feed citizens bullshit, but tell them the truth. Every citizen can decide for themselves what majority is needed for another constitutional amendment."
In response to potential criticism about the Union's potential negotiations with the Left, Günther pointed to his years of experience and the need for open dialogue: "We, as the Union, must talk to the Left."
The Left's Take on Defense Spending
The Left Party, notorious for their opposition to increased military spending, voted in the Bundesrat on Friday to better arm the Bundeswehr in several federal states. This activity illustrates why discussions with the Left Party about the debt brake could face significant resistance, particularly regarding defense spending.
In terms of budget priorities, the Left Party advocates managing military and infrastructure spending within the current budget by adopting more efficient spending practices. If negotiations ensue, they might pressure the CDU and other parties to pursue alternative budgeting strategies rather than loosening the debt brake.
Finally, any constitutional amendments, including those related to the debt brake, require a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag. Given the Left Party's opposition, achieving this majority would require substantial negotiations or concessions.
Ultimately, entering into discussions with the Left Party about the debt brake reform could prove complex, potentially leading to lengthy negotiations or a more tentative approach to spending increases.
- Daniel Günther
- The Left
- CDU
- Debt Brake
- Constitution
- Daniel Günther, the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein, has suggested that the CDU/CSU should engage in discussions about debt brake reform with not only the Greens, but also the Left Party, as the political center does not have a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.
- The Left Party, known for their opposition to increased military spending, may face significant resistance during discussions about debt brake reform due to their stance on defense spending.
- Daniel Günther emphasized the need for transparency throughout the debates about the debt brake reform, encouraging parties to tell citizens the truth instead of feeding them lies, as any constitutional amendments, including those related to the debt brake, require a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.
