Bundestag debates draft budget for 2027

In the budget week until September 11th, the Bundestag will deal with the federal government's draft for the 2027 budget.

The three and a half hour general debate on federal government policy will take place this Wednesday. At the so-called elephant round, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) will present his policy in a speech.

The focus of the debate is actually the draft of the Chancellery's budget for 2027. According to the plan, it should increase to around 5.16 billion euros. Traditionally, however, the federal government's policies are fundamentally discussed in the general debate.

The general debate is under the impression of the AfD's clear victory in the Saxony-Anhalt election.

AfD leader Alice Weidel opens her speech with a frontal attack on the federal government. “Black-red is over,” said Weidel, and the draft budget was a “surrender.” Instead of saving, the federal government is “inflating” to almost 600 billion.

Bundestag President Julia Klöckner opened the meeting and gave the floor to AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel. Today's Bundestag session is scheduled to last a total of eight hours.

Since yesterday, members of the Bundestag have been working on the government's draft for next year's federal budget - the discussions last four days in total. After their completion on Friday, the individual plans will be referred to the Bundestag's budget committee.

Overall, the government draft for 2027 provides for spending of 555.4 billion euros in the so-called core budget - almost 31 billion more than in the current year. The largest expenditure volume, at around 201.5 billion euros, relates to the individual plan of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. That's a good four billion euros more than in 2026. The defense budget is expected to increase from 82.7 billion euros to 109.8 billion euros. 26.4 billion euros are earmarked for the Federal Ministry of Transport's budget - after 27.9 billion euros in the current year.

Part of the expenditure should be offset by tax revenue. The federal government expects an increase of 7.5 billion euros to 394.7 billion euros for the coming year.

Today's general debate on the federal government's policy is the highlight of budget week: The appearance of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who will comment on the government's draft for the Chancellery's 2027 budget, is particularly eagerly awaited. Three days after the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the results are likely to be a significant part of the debate. As the largest opposition faction in the Bundestag, the AfD has the first word in the general debate.