BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s finance minister has delayed presenting his budget for next year due to differences within the ruling coalition, Germany’s DPA news agency and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily reported on Thursday.
Christian Lindner, head of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), had been due to unveil his plans for Europe’s biggest economy on Wednesday. He told Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz that he cannot keep to this date, both media reported.
“We will have to talk in cabinet about financial realities again,” Lindner told DPA, giving no new date. A spokesperson for the finance ministry confirmed the minister’s quote but declined to confirm the budget delay or provide further information.
The three-way coalition, which also includes the environmentalist Greens, has been at odds. Last month, Lindner said he considered the budget demands made by his coalition partners to be excessive.
(Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Lisa)
