Budget debate in the Bundestag: Klingbeil defends the welfare state and reforms

In the first week of the meeting after the summer break, the debate about the federal budget took place. In his speech, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) emphasized that Germany remains a welfare state despite the planned reforms. “What we will not allow is a systematic dismantling of the welfare state under the slogan of reform.” The coalition leadership agrees on this.

“We need a functioning welfare state so that Germany can be a strong country.” There is still a need for good child care, continued payment of wages in the event of illness or short-time work benefits in the event of a temporary loss of work in companies.

The coalition had to make painful compromises and cut financial aid and subsidies, said the SPD leader. This is the only way to create the scope to invest in the future. The fact that the federal government's investment policy and reforms are having an impact can be seen in the economy, which is growing faster again.

"The world will remain jerky. That won't change in the coming years. But I would like us as a country to become a little more free from this," said Klingbeil. “My vision is a Germany of the future that is sovereign and crisis-proof, a strong country that is innovative and also social.”

Any change must be fair. It shouldn't lead to the same people always having the feeling of being left behind. The burden will therefore be relieved for those who need it most: families and people with low and middle incomes.

The 2027 budget provides for spending of 555.4 billion euros - slightly more than this year. In the core budget alone, debts of 118.7 billion euros are to be incurred. Overall, new debt in 2027 is expected to be a good 200 billion euros. The largest individual budget is that of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs with around 201.5 billion euros, the largest individual item being pension insurance benefits. Among other things, a major reform of the statutory pension is planned for the autumn.

There was sharp criticism of the draft budget from the opposition. “The costs of Friedrich Merz’s chancellorship are driving us to ruin,” said AfD member of the Bundestag Michael Espendiller. “In this budget, savings are only made in one place: the citizens,” he said. Left-wing MP Dietmar Bartsch said it was “simply crazy” that the coalition was expecting a trillion euros of new debt in the coming years. Green Party householder Sebastian Schäfer criticized the draft budget for 2027 as unconstitutional.