(de-news.net) – In anticipation of the forthcoming budgetary deliberations in the German Bundestag, Steffen Bilger, Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction, has issued a firm appeal to the federal government, urging it to adopt a more restrained and fiscally prudent approach to public expenditure. In a statement, Bilger articulated the Union’s position with clarity and conviction: “Where taxpayer funds are not being deployed in a manner that is demonstrably effective or purposeful, it is imperative that savings be realized.”
Bilger further emphasized that the objective of fiscal consolidation ought not to be confined solely to reforms within the social welfare system. Rather, he asserted that each individual budgetary allocation across federal ministries contains expenditures that may be deemed non-essential or lacking strategic justification. As a concrete measure, he referenced the agreed-upon reduction of personnel across all governmental departments, with the notable exceptions of defense and internal security—sectors regarded as indispensable to national stability and public safety, particularly in light of prevailing domestic and geopolitical circumstances.
In addition, Bilger called for a comprehensive reassessment of existing funding and subsidy programs, contending that such instruments must be rigorously evaluated to determine their continued relevance and efficacy. He underscored the broader economic imperative by stating: “If we are to tackle the structural issues facing the federal budget, it is important that the German economy regains pace and returns to a track of robust growth.”
With respect to the ongoing discourse surrounding potential tax increases, Bilger acknowledged that divergent perspectives persist among the coalition parties. Nevertheless, he maintained that this issue had already been thoroughly addressed during the coalition negotiations. He reaffirmed that the coalition agreement explicitly precludes any provisions for raising taxes, thereby reiterating the Union parties’ commitment to fiscal austerity and to stimulating economic growth through non-tax-based mechanisms.
