Willingness to ease off ‘debt brake’ may decide the German election
Rule dating from 2009 that limits borrowing looks vulnerable as main political parties promise to revive stalled economy
Germany is used to running its economy with the brake on. Ever since the 2008 financial crisis Berlin has sought to burnish a reputation as the world capital of fiscal discipline, with a near-pious aversion to debt and pride in strong government finances.
Under a rule known as the “debt brake” – introduced in 2009 by Angela Merkel to show Germany was committed to balancing the books after the banking crash – the federal government is required to limit annual borrowing to 0.35% of GDP.
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
-
German elections: When are they, what’s being decided and how that will impact markets
The election for the 630-seat Bundestag is taking place on Sunday, Feb. 23. It’s happening seven months early after a snap election was agreed.MarketWatch - 21h -
German federal election 2025: what’s at stake?
Everything you need to know about the parties, policies and voting in Sunday’s pollsFinancial Times - 13h -
More Germans living abroad registered to vote in upcoming election
Yahoo News - 14h -
Remembering Liberty German and Abby Williams
Liberty German and Abby Williams's loved ones reflect on their lives and the impact they had on those around them.NBC News - 7h -
Court Approves $795 Million Debt Deal for Spirit Airlines
A U.S. Bankruptcy Judge approved the Spirit Airlines’ restructuring proposal.Inc. - 1d -
Debt forgiveness vs. Chapter 11 bankruptcy: How to choose the best option
Knowing the difference between these options could be key to successfully getting rid of your debt.CBS News - 10h -
Friday Briefing: Germans Are Choosing New Leadership
Plus, volcano tourism in Sicily.The New York Times - 1d -
Birkenstock Loses Copyright Battle in German Court Ruling
The famous sandal company lost a battle over copyright law, leaving room for imitations to spawn.The New York Times - 1d -
Dortmund eases past Sporting Lisbon as Champions League focus turns to Real Madrid and Man City
Borussia Dortmund’s routine elimination of Sporting Lisbon was a tame warmup for the Real Madrid-Manchester City showdown in the Champions League playoffs round WednesdayABC News - 2d
More from The Guardian
-
Trump fires Black joint chiefs chair Hegseth accused of promoting diversity
US secretary of defense had questioned whether history-making air force general CQ Brown Jr got job because of race. Donald Trump abruptly fired the air force general CQ Brown Jr as chair of the ...The Guardian - 2h -
US envoy to Ukraine hails Zelenskyy as ‘embattled and courageous leader’
Keith Kellogg takes different tone from Trump, who contrasted ‘very good talks’ with Putin with cooler relationship with Ukraine’s leader. The US envoy to Ukraine, Gen Keith Kellogg, has praised ...The Guardian - 5h -
Long-term effects of Gaza war could quadruple Palestinian death toll, warn UK doctors
Surgeons who worked in Gaza fear disease, malnutrition and eradication of healthcare will reverberate for decades . British doctors who worked in Gaza during the war have issued dire predictions ...The Guardian - 48m -
Brazilian city in Amazon declares emergency after huge sinkholes appear
In Buriticupu, about 1,200 people risk losing their homes, and residents have seen the problem escalate in 30 years. Authorities in a city in the Brazilian Amazon have declared a state of ...The Guardian - 7h -
Man stabbed at Berlin’s Holocaust memorial days before crucial election
German police have arrested a suspect after attack on Spanish tourist and say they have not yet found a motive. German police have arrested a man suspected in a stabbing attack at Berlin’s ...The Guardian - 9h
More in World
-
After years of firm support, 10 days upended the US approach to Ukraine
As Ukraine approached the three-year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the country’s hoped-for path to a favorable and lasting peace has been upended in a matter of days by the administration ...ABC News - 21m -
Meet the 5 top court justices in Brazil who could decide the future of former President Bolsonaro
Five of Brazil’s 11 Supreme Court justices will decide in the next three weeks whether former President Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others charged by the country’s prosecutor-general with attempting a ...ABC News - 30m -
A train through Germany: is Europe’s powerhouse going off the rails?
In the run-up to Sunday’s crucial election, the Guardian took a long journey through Europe’s heartland to talk to voters. Creaking, overcrowded, neglected, Germany’s railways, once a source of ...The Guardian - 48m -
‘We have a rule when we hear the sirens: if you’ve started operating, you don’t stop’: 24 hours with doctors on the Ukrainian frontline
Like the soldiers they battle to save, combat medics in Ukraine are under constant attack. Three years after the invasion, one NHS doctor bears witness. “The frontline here is cold, hard, true war. ...The Guardian - 48m -
Filter trouble? Why audiologists worry noise-cancelling tech may impair hearing skills
Some specialists suspect that constantly filtering out background noise may have unintended consequences. They are prized for making the commute more bearable and shielding against the din of daily ...The Guardian - 48m