section_path: Budget discussions in October 2024
section_name: Budget discussions in October 2024
paragraph_text: Budget discussions in October 2024
  
  In October 2024, Robert Habeck, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and member of The Greens, proposed a debt-financed fund to promote investment by companies in order to fill the gap in the government's budget. The plan would be irreconcilable with Germany's debt brake (Schuldenbremse), which limits annual structural deficits to 0.35% of GDP.
  
  On 1 November 2024, Lindner issued an 18-page policy paper, calling for a new economic policy for the coalition. Lindner called for halting new regulations, introducing new tax cuts, and cutting public spending, including on action against climate change, in order to solve the country's economic crisis. Lindner's paper was deemed a "provocation" by The Greens and the SPD, who considered his positions incompatible with the coalition agreement. This led to crisis talks in the Chancellery over the continued existence of the coalition, which culminated in a session of coalition representatives, including Scholz, Habeck and Lindner meeting on 6 November.