War against Ukraine: SPD wants to suspend debt brake for Ukraine aid

The SPD wants to bring about a decision on new arms deliveries to Ukraine worth three billion euros before the federal election. In order to finance it, however, it insists on suspending the debt brake due to a particular emergency. “I call on the other parliamentary groups to take this legally permissible and necessary step quickly,” said parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich to the German Press Agency. “We can decide on this before the federal election.”

Scholz demands: Some have to jump over their shadow

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had already made this suggestion in the traffic light negotiations on the 2025 budget, which ultimately broke up the coalition.

On Wednesday he said in an RTL interview that he still stands by his proposal. “I would still decide that now if everyone agreed to a resolution: We would finance this extra with loans.” But then “some people would have to jump over their shadow,” said the Chancellor.

Buschmann accuses Scholz of blackmail

However, FDP General Secretary Marco Buschmann promptly made it clear that this was out of the question for his party. He accused Scholz of blackmailing the Bundestag. “Scholz was never concerned with Ukraine. He was always concerned with suspending the debt brake,” wrote Buschmann on Platform That is “crass” and against the Basic Law.

FDP and Greens want “unscheduled expenditure”

The FDP, like the Greens, has spoken out in favor of additional aid for Ukraine. Both don’t want to finance it through new debt, but rather through an “unplanned expense”. According to Article 112 of the Basic Law, this would only be possible under one condition: “It may only be granted in the event of an unforeseen and unavoidable need.” An example of such an expenditure was emergency aid for flood victims in 2013 after severe flooding in parts of Germany.

Mützenich warns of cuts to family and pensions

Mützenich warned against such financing. “Over-planned funds always come at the expense of other areas of the budget, such as family, investment or pension expenses,” he said. The Chancellor is therefore right to instead support a so-called “exceeding decision” to suspend the debt brake. “In any case, new challenges may arise after Donald Trump takes office,” said the SPD parliamentary group leader.

The US is Ukraine’s largest donor and it is unclear whether Trump will maintain the massive aid after he is sworn in as US president on January 20. If not, Germany, as the second largest donor, could face a greater burden in supporting the country attacked by Russia.

The Union also wants new billions in aid

The Union also spoke out in favor of new billions in aid before the election. “We are ready, but the Chancellor has to know what he wants,” said CDU foreign policy expert Johann Wadephul on Tuesday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. However, there is still no clear statement from the CDU/CSU regarding financing.