Controversial billion -in package
CDU MP criticizes vote on debts as “attacking”
Shortly before the first debate on the Bundestag on the planned debt package, open criticism comes from the Union faction. A Thuringian MP even feels compelled.
Before the first consultation of the debt package in the Bundestag this Thursday, the long-time CDU MP Manfred Grund had spicy criticism of his own parliamentary group leadership under party leader Friedrich Merz. “I think the procedure is attacking and silent,” he told that star.
Union and the SPD want to take out the defense spending part from the debt brake and create a special fund of 500 billion euros for investments. The old Bundestag with the necessary two -thirds majority should decide on the changes to the Basic Law.
Reason: debt package opens “lock gates”
For two reasons, this is wrong for the MP. First: “I should decide on something that I have no influence on the legal implementation later.” Secondly, “At the same time, I can anticipate a central decision for the future parliament.”
Grund has been sitting in the Bundestag since 1994 as a directly elected MP for North Thuringia. From 1998 to 2021 he was one of the Union faction’s parliamentary managing directors. He no longer competed for the new election of the Bundestag, his constituency fell to the AfD.
The outgoing MP expressed fundamental concerns about the project. “I also think it is wrong that we should now open the financial policy gates to this extent,” he said. On the other hand, he knew that “a failure could initiate a political crisis”.
Basic conclusion: “It is a dilemma.” He feels “very pressure” and does not yet know how he would vote in the end. Negotiations between the Union, the SPD and the Greens are still running, the voices of which are required for the two -thirds majority.
According to information from star is not the only union member with concerns. However, his faction colleagues do not want to express themselves publicly for the time being.
An exception: the Brandenburg CDU MP Jens Koeppen. He wrote: “In my view, the members of the outgoing 20th German Bundestag are not legitimized to make decisions with such a scope – to decide on debt that includes the scope of two federal households.” He would therefore not take part in the meetings and votes.
The CDU MP Thomas Heilmann has also reported in the star Legal doubt about parts of the debt package. He pointed out that the Union, SPD and Greens vote was only a good 30 votes and that many MPs also resigned from the SPD and the Greens. “I don’t think it is guaranteed that everyone can go along with everything,” he said.
Source: Stern
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