Posted 12/4/2023, 1:33:57 AM
German Ministers Cancel Travel to Focus on Budget Crisis Threatening Governing Coalition
- German Economy Minister Robert Habeck cancels trip to COP28 climate summit and Middle East at request of Chancellor Scholz to focus on budget negotiations
- Government trying to plug €17 billion hole in 2024 budget to comply with debt rules after court ruling
- Main negotiators are Scholz, Habeck, and Finance Minister Christian Lindner seeking agreement between 3 coalition parties
- Court ruled government can't use unused COVID borrowing for future climate/infrastructure spending
- If no budget solution found, could topple governing coalition, but sides still confident of deal