The Federal Court of Auditors has accused Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) of concealing the true budget situation of the federal government. Contrary to what was claimed, Lindner will violate the debt brake in the coming year, President Kay Scheller told the editorial network Germany (RND/Wednesday). According to calculations by the Court of Auditors, the borrowing planned for 2023 at almost 107 billion euros is more than twice as high as the officially reported new debt of almost 46 billion euros. The debt rule enshrined in the Basic Law does not allow such a high value. “The government is undermining the debt brake,” complained Scheller.
It is the task of the government to present the budget situation openly and honestly. “Instead, she’s covering up the situation. Many sub-budgets and increasingly creative bookkeeping ensure a lack of transparency,” criticized the chief auditor. This also applies to the Economic Stabilization Fund, which can take on debts of 200 billion euros for the energy price brakes this year. “Borrowing money in reserve contradicts all budgetary rules,” says Scheller.
The BRH President demanded that it be necessary to prioritize spending and save elsewhere. He also called for the reduction of subsidies: “Anyone who wants to shape the future must part with financial aid that simply no longer fits in with the times,” said Scheller. For years, however, nothing has happened on the subject of subsidy reduction. “Although the Ministry of Finance has subsidies scientifically evaluated, it does not implement the results. It can’t go on like this,” he said.
Scheller also called for reforms in social insurance, which is supported by the federal government with more than 150 billion euros per year. “Some of the solutions have been on the table for years: reducing benefits or higher contributions or working longer are the adjusting screws,” he told the RND. But that requires unpopular decisions. The government must finally act here. “The problem cannot be solved by sitting it out,” said the chief auditor.
