The opposition is harshly criticizing Lars Klingbeil (SPD). Shortly before the 2027 federal budget was passed in the Bundestag, the Federal Finance Minister diverted billions of euros from the transport budget, Green Party budget politician Paula Piechotta told the Handelsblatt: “No budget was more destroyed and gutted by Klingbeil than the transport budget.”
The budget politician accuses Klingbeil of creating facts with his actions and blackmailing parliament into agreeing to the federal government's reform plans for Autobahn GmbH. “Klingbeil is emptying the Autobahn budget, even though the new and expensive credit options for Autobahn GmbH have not even been decided yet,” Piechotta continued.
On Wednesday evening, the Federal Ministry of Finance sent the so-called adjustment template to the Bundestag's budget committee. The coalition traditionally makes final changes to the budget before it is finally approved in the Bundestag.
This time there were significant changes in the transport budget. The Federal Ministry of Finance is reducing the funds of Autobahn GmbH, which is responsible for highway construction, by around two billion euros next year.
In return, an additional 732 million euros will flow into federal highway construction. However, Klingbeil is again canceling Autobahn GmbH's planned funds for the next few years, so-called commitment appropriations, amounting to 5.5 billion euros.
According to Piechotta, there is a plan behind it. “This is blackmail,” she said. In her opinion, Klingbeil is not just plugging its budget holes with the cuts. “At the same time, he is forcing Parliament to put its proposal for loan financing of the motorway through Parliament, otherwise many construction projects will have to be stopped next year,” explained the budget politician.
Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) wants to put the financing of the federal highway company on a new basis. According to a draft law, Autobahn GmbH should be able to take out loans from next year, i.e. be allowed to incur debt for the first time. The bill does not provide for a cap on debt.
The fact that, in addition to easing the debt brake for defense spending and the debt program for infrastructure, the coalition now wants to create another debt option for Autobahn GmbH is not without controversy in the coalition. “Klingbeil’s attack on the royal right of parliament shows that he can only achieve the coalition’s approval by taking political hostages,” said Piechotta.
The Green politician also fears that these plans could be expensive for taxpayers. Taking on debt could possibly be more expensive for Autobahn GmbH than if the federal government took on debt and used it to finance infrastructure projects. “Klingbeil wanted to be investment minister,” said Piechotta. “But he has simply become an inflation minister who drives up inflation with ever new pots of debt.”
The Federal Audit Office has also already warned about the plans. In a report to the budget committee, he called the draft law on Autobahn GmbH's creditworthiness “not ready for decision” due to numerous open questions.
The “new financial architecture” of Autobahn GmbH could also lead to a comeback in the discussion about a car toll. A good ten years ago, such a toll was passed by the Bundestag, but was never introduced because the European Court of Justice overturned the regulation.
In the future, the company will be more dependent on its own toll revenue. At the same time, because there is no firm commitment from the federal budget, the pressure to generate additional user-related revenue could increase in the long term.
