Debt brake: Old Bundestag comes together to form two special sessions

The old Bundestag will come together next Thursday and Tuesday (13th and 18th March) to special meetings. The German Press Agency in Berlin learned this according to a video count on the Council of Elders. From parliamentary circles it was said that it had been found that a third of the MPs – meant union and SPD – special sessions on these days. The Bundestag president will invite you accordingly.

Accordingly, there was no vote on the Council of Elders. According to Article 39 Basic Law, special meetings can be convened if a third of the members of the Bundestag requests this.

The background is plans from the Union and SPD for softening the debt brake for higher defense spending and for a so -called special fund of 500 billion euros for the infrastructure. Both sides had agreed this in their ongoing exploratory talks to form a possible joint federal government.

The two-thirds majority is missing in the new Bundestag

The plans require a change in the Basic Law, for which two-thirds majorities are necessary in the Bundestag and the Federal Council. In the newly elected Bundestag, which has not yet been constituted, the Union, SPD and Greens are no longer coming to such a majority because of the gains of AfD and left. Therefore, the MPs of the old parliament will be ordered back to Berlin next week.

As long as the new Bundestag has not constituted, which has to happen at the latest 30 days after an election, the old one is still fully able to work. He remains “with all his rights and duties (…) There is no parliamentary time,” says information from the scientific services of the Bundestag.

The project nevertheless encounters sharp criticism. According to its first parliamentary managing director Bernd Baumann, the AfD is examining a lawsuit before the Federal Constitutional Court. The question is whether the 20th Bundestag could still be legitimate in a decision of such a range, he told the dpa. The new Bundestag has long since been elected, had a completely different majorities, faced the facts that have been completed and could “no longer change or correct” the new government on the gigantic framework “. “He would be disempowered. So we check a lawsuit.”

BSW boss Sahra Wagenknecht also reacted with sharp criticism “This is the most crazy upgrade package and the greatest voter fraud in the history of the Federal Republic,” she said.

Without FDP or the Greens it is not possible – green Sauer on Söder

For the necessary two-thirds majority, the Union and SPD are dependent on votes from Greens or FDP. The FDP had shown itself ready to talk at the defense point, but not with the special pot for infrastructure.

So far, the Greens leave open how they behave. They are also upset about how to deal with the Union with them, especially with what comes from the CSU. The co-chair of the Green Group, Britta Haßelmann, had spoken of “Macker-Gehe and” Sprüchloplerei “.” What we hear about tones from the CSU, especially from Markus Söder. “Söder had repeatedly attacked the Greens in the election campaign. He attacked the party sharply at the political Ash Wednesday.

SPD and Union continue to probe

Union and SPD, meanwhile, want to probe in further discussions on Thursday whether they want to accept coalition negotiations to form a possible joint government. According to the most important financial issues, it is now about migration, internal security, economy and social issues. There is a risk of argument when it comes to migration. SPD boss Lars Klingbeil pulled a red line in the ARD show “Maischberger”: “I can tell you very clearly: The SPD will not participate in factual border closures,” he said.

Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz (CDU) had announced that the Ministry of the Interior by means of his powers of guidelines as Federal Chancellor had announced “to reject all attempts from illegal entry without exception”.