Berlin. The Left Party's budget committee spokesman in the Bundestag, Dietmar Bartsch, has rejected a proposal by SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch to permit additional borrowing in response to the war in Iran.
Left Party slams Germany's debt brake suspension for military spending
Bartsch argues that even the existing new debt has not been adequately allocated to the promised investments and structural reforms. Now, piling on war-related costs would be a step too far, he insists.
Speaking to news outlet Welt on Monday, Bartsch said: "I view all of this with great concern. We're already debating the debt brake, which I fundamentally oppose. But what's even worse is suspending it for military spending while keeping it in place otherwise. That's a massive problem. Debt isn't inherently bad—it depends on what it's used for. If the solution is just to throw money at every problem, then I'm simply against it." Instead, he urged action on "what was promised"—namely, "reforms across sectors, in pensions, in healthcare, and overall, anything that strengthens social cohesion."
While a decision to exceed borrowing limits for "extraordinary emergencies" might be constitutionally permissible in an ongoing war, Bartsch warns it would likely lead only to higher defense spending at the expense of much-needed investments and reforms. "We can't shoulder all of this if the approach to defense is 'whatever it takes,' with billions being spent recklessly. I oversee the defense budget, and I see how billions are sometimes squandered. This can't go on."
Bartsch also criticized the mismanagement of existing special funds: "We've seen what's happened with them, and eventually, even those funds will run out. Without real structural reforms, we're heading for major trouble. Above all, none of this aligns with what the current chancellor promised as opposition leader during the election campaign. Back then, he took very different positions. Now, he's just managing the country—and that's a huge problem. I truly believe we're at a critical juncture where urgent, urgent reforms are needed to preserve social cohesion."
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