Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - In the debate about softening the debt brake in the state for more investment in the transport turnaround, Greens parliamentary group leader Andreas Schwarz contradicted his party leader Lena Schwelling. "The debt brake is enshrined in the state constitution and it has proven its worth. It prevents new, additional debts from being accumulated year after year. In doing so, it ensures a sustainable, generation-fair financial policy," said Schwarz on Thursday of the German Press Agency in Stuttgart.
Green Party leader Schwelling had demanded that the state use an exception clause in the debt brake in order to be able to advance the traffic turnaround and thus climate protection more quickly. "I'm all for investing," she said. Fraction leader Schwarz explained: "In Baden-Württemberg we have the opportunity to make an exception under certain conditions. We made use of this during the pandemic." But he also warned: "These loans are not gifts. It's a debt we have to pay back."
He supported Schwelling's demand for significantly higher investments in rail transport, but this had to be addressed to the federal government. "We need a booster for public transport." Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) urgently needs to increase the regionalization funds significantly. Schwarz also said: "I myself am open to considering adding an investment clause to the debt brake in the Basic Law. In this way, for example, investments in infrastructure, broadband expansion or a modern rail network can be financed."
