German Finance Minister Klingbeil defends 2027 budget, signals shift on debt

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil presented the 2027 federal budget, defending new borrowing and criticizing the 'Black Zero' as a fetish. This marks a notable policy shift for the SPD-led ministry, potentially easing fiscal constraints amid Germany's economic stagnation. The budget's specifics remain unclear, but the rhetoric signals a departure from prior austerity orthodoxy.