Tax & budget

Strict debt brake: where do Germany’s seven parties stand?

The statement in the quiz

Germany should stick strictly to the debt brake, its limit on borrowing, and not borrow more to pay for investment.

Background

The debt brake is written into the Basic Law, Germany’s constitution. As a rule, new structural federal borrowing may not exceed 0.35% of GDP a year. Since a constitutional amendment in March 2025, defence spending above 1% of GDP is exempt from the limit, and there is a special infrastructure fund of up to €500 billion.

Sources for the background: tagesschau: Constitutional amendment for the finance package

At a glance

CDU/CSUFor
AfDFor
SPDAgainst
GreensAgainst
Die LinkeAgainst
BSWAgainst
FDPFor

ForLeaning forNeutral / mixedLeaning againstAgainstNot in manifesto

Party by party

CDU/CSU Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU)

For

Wants to keep the debt brake in the Basic Law.

From the manifesto „An der grundgesetzlichen Schuldenbremse festhalten.“

Source: CDU/CSU manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 77

Since the election: After the election, before the new government took office (March 2025), the CDU/CSU amended the constitution with the SPD and the Greens to loosen the rules for defence spending and set up a special fund.

AfD Alternative for Germany

For

Firmly rejects any loosening of the debt brake.

From the manifesto „Die AfD lehnt jedwede Aufweichung der Schuldenbremse entschieden ab.“

Source: AfD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 55

SPD Social Democratic Party

Against

Wants to reform the debt rules so that they no longer hold back investment.

From the manifesto „Deshalb wollen wir die Schuldenregel im Grundgesetz so reformieren“

Source: SPD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 17

Greens Alliance 90/The Greens

Against

Wants to reform the debt brake so that investment can be paid for with borrowing.

From the manifesto „Die Aufnahme von staatlichen Krediten soll dazu in dem Umfang ermöglicht werden, wie vom Staat Investitionen getätigt werden.“

Source: Greens manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 36

Die Linke The Left (Die Linke)

Against

Wants to abolish the debt brake.

From the manifesto „Wir fordern die Abschaffung der Schuldenbremse.“

Source: Die Linke manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 13

BSW BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance)

Against

Says the debt brake has become a brake on investment and must be reformed.

From the manifesto „ist zur Investitionsbremse geworden. Deshalb muss sie reformiert werden.“

Source: BSW manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 15

FDP Free Democratic Party

For

Sees sticking to the debt brake as central to fairness between generations.

From the manifesto „die Einhaltung der im Grundgesetz verankerten Schuldenbremse zentrales Gebot der Generationengerechtigkeit“

Source: FDP manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 35

Positions are coded on five steps: for, leaning for, neutral or mixed, leaning against, against. A party whose manifesto says nothing on the statement is marked “not in manifesto”, and the quiz leaves the statement out of that party’s score. The coding method and its checks are on the method page.

Where do you stand on this one?

This is one of the statements in the German Party Spectrum Quiz. The whole quiz takes about five minutes and shows how your views split across the seven parties, plus your place on an economic and social map. No sign-up, and we never ask who you are.

Start the quiz