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The Group Unwaveringly Dismisses Allegations Regarding Financial Processes

Brandenburg's State Parliament set to vote on twin budget this month; CDU raises concerns over past process, vocalizing their objections within the coalition.

Potential Decision on Double Budget in Brandenburg State Parliament This Month; CDU Raises Concerns...
Potential Decision on Double Budget in Brandenburg State Parliament This Month; CDU Raises Concerns Over Previous Procedures - Coalition Steadfast in Standpoint.

The Group Unwaveringly Dismisses Allegations Regarding Financial Processes

Brand spankin' new budget drama in Potsdam 💸💥

** TL;DR: The SPD/BSW coalition in Brandenburg is unfazed by criticism over dual roles in the budget process, while the CDU is raising concerns about potential conflicts and arbitrariness. The double budget for this and next year is on the horizon, with new debt planned and potential changes to budget rules.

The Brandenburg SPD/BSW coalition isn’t fussed over legal questions concerning the double budget procedure, unlike the CDU. The CDU is criticizing the presence of financial expert Christian Breuer and legal scholar Thorsten Ingo Schmidt, who held expert roles at a hearing on the budget in the state parliament and provided opinions for the Ministry of Finance. Breuer was previously part of the scientific staff of the expert council of the federal government.

Finance Minister Robert Crumbach (BSW) brushes off the criticism. "No legal problem - not in the hearing, nor in the committee's procedure," Crumbach told the German Press Agency. Back in April, these two experts shared their opinions on the legally permissible level of cyclical debt.

CDU’s finance politician Steeven Bretz advocates for a fresh expert round. "These two experts the coalition proposed are the exact ones who've advised this government. We must prevent the appearance of arbitrariness," Bretz said. The majority of the budget committee voted down the CDU’s call for a new hearing process. The AfD also chimed in with criticism.

Double dipping in expertise? No probleme!

SPD MP Andreas Noack stressed, "I don't see actual flaws or procedural errors as you've named them." But he acknowledged, "Conflicts of this nature clearly show that expertise in this area isn't as abundant as we'd all like it to be." Yet, he backed a fresh hearing for municipal peak associations. BSW’s finance politician Christian Dorst called the CDU criticism a "supposed deficiency."

The double budget for this and the upcoming year is set to be finalized this month. Cuts for municipalities and the Medical University Brandenburg were either rejected or softened. More funds are in store for the police and hospitals.

Debt piled high, baby

The coalition plans to take on new debt in the billions for the budget. Brandenburg’s debt brake in the constitution allows additional debt in cases of cyclical revenue losses. The CDU takes issue with cancellations of cuts while acknowledging higher-than-expected tax revenues.

Moreover, the coalition fancies making higher debt possible by tweaking the budget rules. The economic cycle comparison period would be extended to up to ten years. Brandenburg state parliament's advisory service doesn’t see these plans as inherently unconstitutional but suggests they depend on whether the change is both justifiable and reasonable based on economic and financial science standards. Breuer and Schmidt concluded in the hearing that the proposed change was justifiable. The finance minister views the change as legally permissible, necessary, and sensible, referring to supporting scientific perspectives.

  1. The double budget for the current and upcoming year, with new debt planned and potential changes to budget rules, is a cause for concern among parties like the CDU, who argue that the presence of financial expert Christian Breuer and legal scholar Thorsten Ingo Schmidt in the budget process could lead to conflicts of interest and arbitrariness.
  2. Despite criticism from opposition parties, Finance Minister Robert Crumbach (BSW) remains unfazed, asserting that there are no legal problems with the double budget procedure or the involvement of Breuer and Schmidt.
  3. The proposed changes to budget rules, such as extending the economic cycle comparison period to up to ten years, are being advocated by the coalition and defended by finance minister Robert Crumbach, who views them as legally permissible, necessary, and sensible, citing supporting scientific perspectives. However, the Brandenburg state parliament's advisory service suggests that these plans' constitutionality depends on whether the change is both justifiable and reasonable based on economic and financial science standards.

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