The German
Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner has been demanding a
change of policy towards the Eurozone to enter the government.
In an
interview with Handelsblatt on Friday, Linder made clear that joining the
government as a junior coalition partner will require a change of policy
regarding the Eurozone. The FDP leader called for a state insolvency law that
will allow states to default, leave the Eurozone, whilst remaining in the
European Union. He also criticized the outgoing Finance Minister Wolfgang
Schaeuble for giving in the third bailout programme for Greece.
Such a
concession would allow the Christian Democrats (CDU) to hold on to the Ministry
of Finance, which may make the proposal appealing.
On the
campaign trail, the FDP had made it clear they would be unwilling to join a
coalition without the ministry of finance portfolio. During the campaign trail,
Lindner was also opposed to the idea of a common Eurozone budget, minister, and
parliament, as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. “It is nonsensical
to debate portfolios if we do not have clarity on policy,” he told
Handelsblatt.
Domestically,
the FDP prioritizes the reduction of income tax rates for the middle class,
increasing investment on digital infrastructure, and putting a cap on the
number of refugees that can enter Germany.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/fdp-wants-cut-off-greece-eurozone/