Vote in the Federal Council: Change of Basic Law for Financial Package is standing

The Federal Council has cleared the way for the huge financial package, which can now be used to invest billions in defense and infrastructure through new debts. As on Tuesday in the Bundestag, the necessary two -thirds majority in the Landkammer came about for the corresponding change in the Basic Law. With 53 out of 69 country voices, the consent was significantly larger than it would have been necessary.

46 yes votes would have been necessary. Bremen and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in which the left is involved in the state government, also voted yes. Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt, where the FDP is a government partner, abstained. There were also abstentions from Brandenburg and Thuringia, where the BSW co -regulated. In the Federal Council, abstentions apply like a no.

Union, the SPD and Greens had agreed on the law after days of struggle. The Greens were needed for the two -thirds majority in the Bundestag and the Federal Council. It must now be checked and signed by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for his constitutional state.

Debt brake in the Basic Law is loosened

With the law, the debt brake, which is anchored in the Basic Law, which sets close limits for the federal debt of the federal debt, is relaxed for expenditure in defense, civil protection, intelligence services and cyber security. For all of these expenses that one percent of gross domestic product exceed, loans may be taken in the future. That would be all about 44 billion euros this year.

In addition, a special fund is created, for which the debt brake does not apply and which is fed up to 500 billion euros with loans. This is intended to pay the repair of the dilapidated infrastructure in Germany. 100 billion euros are to go to the federal states, another 100 billion euros should flow into climate protection and the climate -friendly conversion of the economy.

Kretschmann: It’s about the self -assertion of Europe

In the Federal Council, Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann expressly confessed to the debt brake, but justified it with the dramatically changing world situation. “It is no less than the self-assertion of Europe-security, economically and technologically,” said the Greens politician.

It is also about the self -assertion of our values ​​of peace, freedom and democracy. “You can’t react to such an extraordinary challenge with ordinary means.” With a view to the 500 billion program for investments in the infrastructure, the Prime Minister of the Greens parliamentary group thanked “that she did the financial package much better”.

Söder and Kretschmer warn structural reforms

“Historical times require historical measures,” said Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder. With the change of the Basic Law, the opportunity to “tense up a protective shield”. However, this change of Basic Law is only a first stage. “She has to go hand in with investing, consolidating and reforming,” said the CSU chairman.

Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer also pointed out the need for structural reforms. “You can’t clarify these things with money alone,” warned the CDU politician with a view to the ailing infrastructure.

“We need a different dynamic in the Federal Republic of Germany. We have to solve growth brakes.” This second step had to take place so that the great financial resources “not only have an increasing prices or even an additional inflation”.

Bovenschulte and Rehlinger demand quick implementation

Saarland’s Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger called to get quickly into a “implementation mode” for the now possible investments in the infrastructure. “The money alone does not solve the existential questions,” said the SPD politician, who is also the acting president of the Federal Council. “We now need overarching maker mentality and not a bad mood. Act instead of bogged down, that is the bid of the hour.”

Bremen’s Prime Minister Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) called for the necessary implementation laws to be decided quickly and always also pay attention to the implementability and the effort. “What does the most beautiful special fund use us if we don’t get it in practice?”

Rhine calls for savings on all political levels

Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein said that the new financial scope did not reduce the need for consolidation for public budgets due to the change in the Basic Law. “On the contrary: rising debts lead to rising interest rates. And this increases the pressure to consolidate on all political levels,” said the CDU politician. “We can no longer afford everything.”