Financial package: Greens call for borrowing in Saxony

The Greens are calling on the Saxon minority government made up of the CDU and SPD to include the borrowing made possible by the federal financial package in the budget. "Loans are not the devil's work, as has been claimed in parts of the Saxon CDU and also by various Saxon finance ministers," said the chairwoman of the Green parliamentary group in the state parliament, Franziska Schubert, according to a statement. It is a question of intergenerational justice not to accumulate hidden debts through investments that have been neglected for far too long.

Federal Council still has to approve financial package

The Bundestag passed the financial package with the necessary two-thirds majority. Now the Bundesrat still needs to approve the amendments to the Basic Law on Friday for them to come into force. The package also provides for a special fund for investments in infrastructure and climate neutrality amounting to 500 billion euros, of which 100 billion euros will go to the federal states. The package also gives the federal states more leeway for their own debt.

Greens call for central role for climate protection

Saxony has a difficult budget ahead of it, said Schubert. "The agreement at federal level can be a decisive help in the current economic situation." The Greens are calling on the government to swiftly incorporate the new options, in particular borrowing, into the draft budget.

In a position paper, Schubert's parliamentary group calls for climate protection to play a central role in investments. Other priorities listed include building daycare centers and schools, expanding the local transport network and renovating cultural sites.

SPD praises the Greens

The SPD praised the Bundestag resolution as a success for the future of Saxony and Germany. "With the agreed package, Saxony can invest 500 million euros more per year," said the co-chair, Member of the Bundestag Kathrin Michel, according to a statement. Saxony's "future markets" such as the climate-friendly automotive industry, hydrogen technology and microelectronics would benefit massively from this.

Lipzig MP Holger Mann (SPD) thanked the Greens "for once again demonstrating the national political responsibility that others have long lacked".