- Title: New Finance Minister Lindner wants ministry to be 'enabler' of German government
- Date: 9th December 2021
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 9, 2021) (CORONAPOOL) LIBERAL LEADER (FDP) CHRISTIAN LINDNER AWAITING OFFICE HANDOVER AT FINANCE MINISTRY VARIOUS CLOSE OF LINDNER IN CONVERSATION GOVERNMENT ECONOMIC ADVISER, JOERG KUKIES LISTENING NEW CHANCELLOR AND FORMER FINANCE MINISTER, OLAF SCHOLZ ARRIVING FOR HANDOVER / BUMPING FISTS WITH LINDNER / SAYING HELLO TO STAFF STAFF LISTENING SCHOLZ GOING ON STAGE WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) NEW CHANCELLOR AND FORMER FINANCE MINISTER, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: "It is something very special to be the Minister of Finance, and so I am sure that Christian Lindner has a certain happy anticipation about holding this beautiful office and the title that is so important for the fate of our country. Because it is about everything, somehow and always. And all those who work here always have that in mind. From my side, therefore, a big thank you to the staff and employees. Without them, we would be nothing." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) NEW CHANCELLOR AND FORMER FINANCE MINISTER, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: "I want to draw special attention to the fact that the fiscal management in this house has been solid, even before I took over and that this contributed to us being able to resist the crisis so well. But of course this means that sound economic management must not be forgotten. Because when this crisis is hopefully over at some point, we have to bear in mind that the next one could come. When exactly, we don't know, for what reason and what kind of strength it will demand from us neither. But of course we must prepare ourselves for it. And in this respect, it is also the task in the coming months, to make sure that we manage to create the reserves we need and to create the stability that we need in order to be able to act whenever necessary, and at the same time manage to win the future. That means managing climate change and modernising our country." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) NEW CHANCELLOR AND FORMER FINANCE MINISTER, OLAF SCHOLZ, SAYING: "I wish you much luck, it is a wonderful job. I very much enjoyed being finance minister and I am sure that you will too." APPLAUSE AS SCHOLZ LEAVES STAGE AND LINDNER GOES UP ON STAGE TO SPEAK WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) LIBERAL LEADER (FDP) AND NEW FINANCE MINISTER, CHRISTIAN LINDNER, SAYING: "It is no secret that the Free Democrats, and I at their head, have been in opposition to the outgoing Federal Government with its Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz and that we have our differences. Even in the past months of the election campaign, we did not hide from the public that we see certain things differently. But we have now formed a government that wants to push ahead with common projects, that wants to organise a new beginning. We have defined projects for the next four years. And that is why I, as the minister now in charge here, would like to understand this ministry, as I said at the government press conference the other day, as an enabler ministry, as the ministry that makes the projects of the future federal government possible and at the same time respects the constitution. Sparingly using the funds that the taxpayers provide us with and respecting the fiscal stability not only of our national economy, but also of Europe." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (German) LIBERAL LEADER (FDP) AND NEW FINANCE MINISTER, CHRISTIAN LINDNER, SAYING: "I am very much looking forward to working with all of you, I am very much looking forward to facilitating the goals of the government, but above all to working in the interests of this country and now let us start the next four exciting and interesting years together. I am looking forward to it." APPLAUSE SCHOLZ AND LINDNER BEING GIVEN FLOWERS VARIOUS OF SCHOLZ AND LINDNER GETTING UP AND CHATTING WITH STAFF
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2021 12:52
- Keywords: FDP Christian Lindner Germany coronavirus finance ministry outgoing minister Olaf Scholz
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001F7BEBEV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDIT CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES
Fighting the coronavirus pandemic is the biggest challenge for Germany's new government and Berlin must create fiscal reserves now to be prepared for the next crisis, Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the centre-left Social Democrats said on Thursday as he handed over the finance ministry to Christian Lindner.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the ministry to the fiscally more conservative leader of the Free Democrats (FDP), Scholz said the role of the finance minister within the three-way coalition was "very special" as he would have do deal with all aspects of the government's policies.
"Solid finances are necessary because the next crisis will come. It is only unclear when exactly this will happen," Scholz said. "But of course we have to prepare for it," the goal must be to create reserves in order to be able to act whenever necessary, Scholz added.
A supplementary budget for 2021 is now pending, with agreements reached in the negotiations to form the first so-called traffic light coalition, named after the colours of the three parties.
Lindner did not give more details on the budget but according to insiders, it is to be passed by the cabinet on 15 December and will park more than 50 billion euros of unused loans in the federal government's climate and transformation fund - more or less as a reserve for later.
Lindner addressed previous disagreements between Scholz' Social Democrats and his Liberal Party but said he wanted to see his ministry as the 'enabler' of government policies, "as the ministry that makes the projects of the future federal government possible and at the same time respects the constitution. Sparingly using the funds that the taxpayers provide us with and respecting the fiscal stability not only of our national economy, but also of Europe," Lindner said.
Lindner is planning his first trip abroad to Paris on Monday and will on today (December 9) talk on the phone with the French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.
(production: Tanya Wood) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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