Finance Minister Brunner

“We need more private capital for provision”

Magnus Brunner: "We have to be cautious in our budget planning and stick to the estimates of the economic experts."(Bild: Zwefo)

The €100,000 construction subsidy for owner-occupied homes called for by social partners is not a well thought-out idea, says Finance Minister Magnus Brunner. Why he has not misjudged the budget and why private pension provision should be tax-incentivized - if the Greens are persuaded.

"Krone": Your budget planning envisaged almost twice as much debt: How can a finance minister suddenly find nine billion? How can you misjudge like that?
Magnus Brunner: We did not misjudge. We have to be cautious in our forecasts and stick to the estimates of the economic experts. They vary, but we stick to the most cautious one. It's a stroke of luck if we incur less debt, but it's still debt. Six billion of the budgeted expenditure on subsidies and energy cost subsidies, for example, have not been needed. Added to this are low interest payments and increased revenues.