Scholz and Baerbock clash over funding for Ukraine aid
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stands firm: aid for Ukraine should be financed by suspending the debt brake. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has accused Scholz of using this issue for political gain during the election campaign, according to German media.
"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his stance that he would approve additional arms deliveries to Ukraine, valued at three billion euros (3.1 billion dollars), only if the debt brake is suspended," wrote the Tagesschau portal.
The only way to finance this without making budget cuts across Germany is to take out a loan.
This is the path practically every country around us has taken, stated Scholz (SPD) after a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Friday in Berlin.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) criticized Scholz's reluctance to approve another three billion euros in military aid for Ukraine. "Even now, during the election campaign, some prioritize a national perspective — or how to quickly gain a few votes in the parliamentary election — rather than taking real responsibility for securing Europe’s peace and freedom," said the German Foreign Minister in an interview with "Politico."
Baerbock expressed regret over the ongoing dispute regarding new billions in aid and noted that "Germany as a whole isn’t currently seen as a driving force for peace policy in Europe."
3 billion euros in military aid
Most in the Bundestag favor granting Ukraine another three billion euros in military aid this year. However, there is disagreement over how this amount should be financed, as reminded by Tagesschau.
Like the liberal FDP and the Christian Democratic CDU/CSU, the Greens believe it is possible to finance aid for Ukraine from "unplanned expenditures." However, Article 112 of the Basic Law sets a condition: "Aid may only be granted in case of an unforeseen and unavoidable need." An example of such expenditures was emergency aid for flood victims in 2013, as recalled by the portal.
Scholz has already proposed suspending the debt brake during government negotiations between the SPD, Greens, and FDP regarding the 2025 budget, which eventually led to the coalition's collapse. "Due to differences in approach, Scholz assumes that funding issues will not be resolved before the February 23 elections," wrote Tagesschau.
Scholz received support from SPD leader Saskia Esken, observed the portal. If Baerbock rejects the suspension of the debt brake, "she should explain where she intends to find savings of three billion euros (3.1 billion dollars) in a budget already short by about 20 billion euros (20.5 billion dollars)," said Esken.
