About: Christian Lindner
German finance minister announces comeback for debt brake in 2023
In his inaugural speech to the German parliament, the liberal finance minister Christian Lindner argued for fiscal restraint but showed openness for more public investment to strengthen growth and decarbonise the economy.
Auditors: Berlin’s €60b climate fund booster ‘constitutionally questionable’
Germany's plans to supercharge its climate fund with unused credit lines from the COVID-19 pandemic in order to speed up the country's shift towards a green economy, have now been called into question by national auditors.
Green finance row splits Berlin
The EU is in the final stages of honing its green finance rules and a leaked draft proposing that nuclear and gas should receive the label for the transition has prompted complaints from Berlin. But positions differ even inside the new German coalition government
French and German finance ministers stress common interests in first meeting
Although he is known to be a hardline opponent of public debt, the new German finance minister showed his openness to compromise during his first trip to Paris only days after taking office.
Germany’s liberal FDP rules out additional debt for investments
The three parties of Germany's next government have made it clear they want to make the coming years a decade of investments for the future. Where the resources for such investments will come from, however, remains unclear.
Germany rejects relaxation of EU fiscal rules
Under a Liberal-led finance ministry, Germany will take a hard line on EU fiscal policy and reject calls from southern EU countries to relax fiscal rules. However, the business-friendly FDP is open to compromise. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German small parties pick Social Democrats over conservatives for coalition talks
Germany’s Greens and the liberal FDP, two kingmakers after the inconclusive federal election, have announced they want to launch talks about a potential coalition with the Social Democrat SPD, rather than with outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU. The first discussions are planned for Thursday (7 October).
Greens and Liberals hold key to form next German government
Following Sunday's federal election, the most likely outcome for the new German Bundestag is one of two coalitions: a Social Democrat-led 'traffic light'-coalition or a Conservative-led 'Jamaica'-coalition. Both camps will now try to win over kingmakers, the Greens and Liberals, to secure a stable majority.
Kramp-Karrenbauer faces backlash over ‘censorship’ calls
A broad debate should be held on the possible regulation of political views expressed online, the leader of Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), said on Monday. But she faced an immediate backlash, with some accusing her of advocating censorship.
Germany’s liberals sign off on European election programme
At its European party congress on Sunday (27 January), the liberal FDP party elected Nicola Beer as its Spitzenkandidat and also adopted its election programme. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Donations to German parties soar during elections, raising concerns
The financial statements of German political parties for 2017 once again demonstrated that business is particularly generous during elections, with the Union of CDU and CSU benefitting in particular. Critics argue that these donations distort democracy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German coalition: Wolfgang Kubicki and the U-turn à la FDP
Wolfgang Kubicki has known the political business for more than 30 years. Such an experienced man, one could assume, makes no rookie mistakes. If someone like him wants to spread a message, he exactly knows what he is doing. EURACTIV Germany's media partner "Der Tagesspiegel" reports.
Merkel suffers local election setback as Schulz survives to fight another day
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives lost a closely-watched regional vote on Sunday (15 October), weakening her hand as she embarks on complex coalition talks following a disappointing showing at last month's general election.
European Parliament VP: ‘We must use the window of opportunity’ to deepen EU integration
Current conditions are ideal to push the EU towards becoming a European federal state, according to one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament, Rainer Wieland. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Merkel’s EU-policies: Paris can wait
Merkel keeps a low profile in the election campaign regarding European issues, trying not to alienate voters as well as potential coalition partners.
Post-election Germany: An iron chancellor with a liberal sidekick?
If the liberal FDP enters a coalition with the conservative CDU in Berlin, Merkel and Schäuble will have to adapt their plans for the future of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). EURACTIV Germany's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.