Traffic light is struggling for a new growth package - CDU calls for austerity measures

Traffic light is struggling for a new growth package - CDU calls for austerity measures

The CDU politician Middelberg emphasizes the possibility of an investment boost without new debts through significant savings in the federal ministries. He criticizes the fact that the traffic light government has hired a record number of new top civil servants, so that there are now over 30,000 employees in the ministries, compared to 18,500 in 2012. A reduction in staff by 20 percent could bring annual savings of 400 million euros.

In addition, significant savings could be achieved through consistent limits on asylum migration and better work incentives. Middelberg estimates that the integration of 100,000 citizen benefit recipients into the labor market could lead to savings in citizen benefit costs and additional income from taxes and social security contributions in the federal budget of up to three billion euros.

With regard to a growth package that was passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat but lost volume in the mediation process, Federal Economics Minister Habeck is working together with Finance Minister Lindner on further growth impulses. There is speculation as to whether a comprehensive package can be passed by the traffic light government, given differences over funding. While Habeck favors new debt, Lindner rejects this and the question remains where the funds will come from.