Budget debate in the Bundestag: Left demands a change of chancellor

At the start of the budget debate, the Left criticized the federal government's debt plans and called for Chancellor Friedrich Merz to be replaced. “How long can a chancellor be a burden for citizens, for companies, for his own party?” asked Dietmar Bartsch (The Left). Similar to Julian Nagelsmann after the World Cup, Merz also has to go. There was also criticism of the draft budget from the ranks of the Greens and the AfD - especially the planned new debt.

The Left is "not an opponent of investments, but a trillion in debt is simply insane," said Bartsch. He particularly criticized the increased defense spending. There is no euro for relief, while "600 billion euros are planned for excessive armament of the Bundeswehr" in the next few years. He also calls for large assets and large inheritances to be used more to finance state tasks.

The left calls for greater taxation of assets and inheritances

Green budget politician Schäfer criticized planned cuts for families, single parents and housing benefits. He also rated the budget draft presented by Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) as unconstitutional because the investments in the draft were “calculated in a distorted manner”. “They are simply investing too little in the core budget,” Schäfer criticized the federal government. This presents a poorly patched-up set of figures that causes a lot of uncertainty.

Greens: Special assets are “used to plug budget holes”

Last year, the Greens approved the special fund worth billions for infrastructure and climate protection. Since then, they have repeatedly criticized the fact that investments in the special fund are not being made to a sufficient extent as promised - but that the extra pot is being used to plug holes in the core budget and to finance campaign promises such as an expansion of the mother's pension.

AfD member of the Bundestag Michael Espendiller called for significantly greater limits on government spending. “In this budget, savings are only being made in one place: the citizens,” said Espendiller in the Bundestag. In his speech, he criticized the planned new debt totaling a good 200 billion euros in 2027. "Almost every third euro that you spend is borrowed against," said Espendiller. He also questioned the rising interest costs, spending for the EU and Ukraine and energy policy. He also accused the budget plans of “unconstitutional accounting tricks” intended to comply with the debt brake.

Draft budget envisages significantly higher new debt

The federal government's draft budget envisages significantly higher spending in 2027 as well as significantly higher new debt. Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) will present the draft and the financial planning up to 2030 in the Bundestag this morning. Spending of 555.4 billion euros is planned for the coming year, almost six percent more than in the current year. In addition, net borrowing of 118.7 billion euros is planned. The budget discussions last until Friday, until then the individual plans of the departments will be discussed.

The highlight of the budget week is the so-called elephant round on Wednesday, in which MPs debate the federal government's policies. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the chairmen of the Bundestag factions will then also take the floor.