„The repeated circumventing of the debt brake by the SPD and CDU is evidence of the lack of fiscal responsibility in state politics. The supposedly exceptional circumstances are no longer an exception but are systematically exploited to live beyond the means,“ said Angelika Hießerich-Peter, deputy state chairwoman of the FDP Saar.
The state government justifies its decision with the impacts of the Ukraine war and rising energy prices, but the FDP Saar sees this merely as an excuse to divert attention from the structural shortcomings of past years. "Instead of making our country future-proof, the state government is delaying necessary measures and buying time with ever-increasing debt. This is not sustainable fiscal policy, but simply a postponement of problems onto the backs of future generations," Hießerich-Peter continued.
The FDP Saar also sharply criticizes the CDU's role as the opposition party. "The CDU once again fails in its task of critically monitoring the government. Instead of demanding a real change of course, it acts as a compliant stooge of the SPD and supports this fiscal misstep. This is a declaration of bankruptcy for the opposition in Saarland," Hießerich-Peter emphasizes further.
Instead, the FDP Saar calls for a consistent adherence to the debt brake and an end to the "business as usual." "What is finally needed is a policy that does not rely on ever-increasing debt, but on innovation, reducing bureaucracy, a genuine growth strategy, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. The goal must be to strengthen the Saarland economically and broaden the revenue base through smart reforms – not to carry the problems into the future," Hießerich-Peter emphasizes in conclusion.
