German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz ves a speech during a session at the lower house of German parliament, Bundestag, on the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Berlin, Germany, March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's finance minister asked lawmakers on Wednesday to suspend the country's debt brake so the government can fight the coronavirus pandemic with "full force".
Olaf Scholz told the Bundestag lower house the government needed a debt-financed supplementary budget of 156 billion euros (142.99 billion pounds) to protect the health of Germans and keep struggling companies afloat. He proposed using an exit clause for emergencies to get around the debt brake.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
