Klingbeil secures Win in Coalition Dispute Over Infrastructure Funding
A contentious dispute over infrastructure funding has resulted in a victory for Lars Klingbeil, General secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), in the first major “street fight” between the governing coalition partners – the CDU/CSU and the SPD. The disagreement centered on a proposed €15 billion infrastructure package championed by Transport Minister Volker Wissing of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which was considerably reduced during coalition negotiations.
The clash highlights the challenges facing the new coalition government as it attempts to balance competing priorities and budgetary constraints.The outcome impacts planned highway and federal road projects across Germany, with notable cuts to the number of projects initially proposed by Wissing. The dispute also signals a potential power dynamic within the coalition,with Klingbeil emerging as a key negotiator.
transport Minister Wissing was recently hospitalized, forcing him to observe the negotiations remotely.During the coalition committee meeting on Thursday night, his staff faced scrutiny of the proposed projects. of the 74 motorway projects Wissing presented, onyl five were deemed “ready for construction under existing law.” Similarly, of the 99 federal highway projects, only 21 remained viable.
Klingbeil initially offered an additional €1 billion for the infrastructure projects, requiring savings from a ministry led by the CDU/CSU. Through negotiation, the final agreement reached €3 billion, but with the stipulation that Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) would not be able to allocate the funds to promote ”microelectronics” as originally planned.
Robin Alexander is deputy editor-in-chief of Welt. His new book “Last chance – the new Chancellor and the fight for democracy: A report from within power” was recently published. An excerpt can be found here.
