Press
Several thousand Bundeswehr soldiers are to be permanently stationed in Lithuania. Boris Pistorius is demanding more money for them – but could fail because of the finance minister.
Berlin – As we all know, friendship ends when it comes to money. Also with the Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) sometimes have a falling out: Pistorius wants to increase the salaries of the brigade in Lithuania, Lindner puts the brakes on.
The plan is for around 4,000 soldiers to be permanently placed in Lithuania, thereby strengthening NATO’s eastern flank on the border with Belarus and Russia. The Defense Minister announced this about a year ago during a visit to Lithuania. Pistorius wants to use the allowances to increase the attractiveness of the Lithuania mission Mirror reported. When it came to the corresponding draft law, however, Lindner’s House remained stubborn and vetoed it.
First debt brake, then Bundeswehr
It is questionable whether the law can be passed before the summer break. The defense budget in 2024 is 52 billion euros, and the defense minister has already announced an additional requirement of 6.5 billion euros for 2025. Finance Minister Lindner justifies the veto with the debt brake – much to the incomprehension of Pistorius, who said in an interview: “The state’s mandate to provide patrol forces is in the Basic Law. Therefore, one cannot say per se that the debt brake is a greater good and that all other constitutional mandates must be subordinated to it.” The CDU also agrees with this objection. But Lindner is sticking to reducing the debt burden first. This is currently 64 percent of gross domestic product. “At 60 percent I let people talk to me again,” says Lindner.
This is what the Lithuania package contains
From 2028, when the special fund of 100 billion euros has been used up, an increase in the double-digit billion range will be needed, says Pistorius. The planned Lithuania package provides for doubling salaries in many cases and a commitment bonus. The 83-page draft also provides for further allowances, such as the Mirror reported. The draft contains an estimate of 248.39 million euros – but does not provide any further details. The additional costs for the federal government would only be quantified or corrected in the course of the interdepartmental coordination.
Lindner’s house has some points of criticism about this. The proposed allowances could lead to “unforeseeable and lasting consequences for the federal budget,” he said Mirror State Secretary for Finance Steffen Saebisch.
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