By Friday, Republicans and Democrats must agree on a new budget law. Does not work, threatens a new shutdown. That’s what it looks like right now, as both sides made clear.
In the dispute over the financing of a demanded by US President Donald Trump wall on the border with Mexico, the fears of a renewed shutdown in the US grow. Trump’s incumbent Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told broadcaster NBC that he could „absolutely not“ rule out a new stalemate of parts of the government. The Democrat negotiator, Senator Richard Shelby, sounded the same in another station: „I think the talks have stalled,“ he said.
By next Friday, Trump’s Republicans and opposition Democrats in Congress will have time to agree on a budget law. Trump demands that this includes funds for the construction of the wall. The Democrats reject their funding. According to Sunday’s negotiators, the negotiations made no progress.
The president accused the Democrats via Twitter to want to compromise for political reasons. They did not provide enough money for border fortifications and did not want all illegal immigrants arrested.
It was not until January 25 that a five-week shutdown had ended – it was the longest in US history. Trump had wanted to force the Democrats to release $ 5.7 billion to build the wall. Instead, Democrats and Republicans in Congress and the President agreed on a transitional three-week budget. In this period – which expires on 15 February – a compromise should be found.
