Left: Debt brake responsible for solar plant shutdown

The Left Party blames the German government and the debt brake for the planned closure of Meyer Burger's solar plant in Saxony. "You really can't explain to any sensible person why this government is letting the strategically important future industry of solar production, including jobs in the energy transition, go down the drain, just to avoid stepping on the toes of a minority of dogmatic neoliberals and their fetish of putting the brakes on investment," said Left Party leader Martin Schirdewan on Friday in Berlin.

The debt brake should at least be suspended so that Germany can invest in the socially just restructuring of the economy. Chancellor Olaf Scholz should use his policy-making powers for this, Schirdewan demanded. To promote the solar industry, he supported the idea of a bonus for European production. In addition, the solar industry should be included in the list of strategic funding projects and an industrial foundation should be created for public participation.

The solar company Meyer Burger had announced that it was preparing to close its plant in Freiberg, Saxony. The Swiss manufacturer, which is based in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, announced that this would take place gradually. Production in the USA is to be ramped up instead. Around 500 jobs are at stake.