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The state budget is drawn up in accordance with the debt brake, which stipulates a limit on new borrowing. Hesse is facing economic challenges that require careful budget planning.
Hesse's Finance Minister Alexander Lorz (CDU) will present the 2027 state budget to the state parliament in Wiesbaden today (3:20 p.m.). It is a budget in challenging times, as the minister explained when presenting the paper with a view to the weakening economic situation. In line with the debt brake, the country wants to take on around 1.7 billion euros in new debt. This would reduce new debt by around 100 million euros compared to the current year. Lorz announced investments in, among other things, education.
The other topics of the first of three plenary days this week include protection against violence. The state of Hesse wants to take over the full financing of the ongoing operations of the existing women's shelters and advice centers from 2027. To date, the women's welfare system has been paid for jointly by the state, municipalities and the sponsors.
In addition, another Hessian bureaucracy reduction law will be discussed in the first reading. Among other things, it aims to pave the way for foreign skilled workers to get into the job. When checking your professional and educational qualifications, the approval will be deemed to have been granted three months after the documents have been submitted - provided no rejection has been sent. A total of 168 regulations in 70 laws are to be deleted.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner warns of increasing polarization in the Bundestag, criticizes the behavior of AfD and Left MPs and threatens to exclude entire parliamentary groups in the event of an escalation in order to ensure the plenary debate.

The state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin have further exacerbated the political climate in Germany. The AfD achieved a record result of almost 44 percent in Saxony-Anhalt and could form a state government for the first time since 1949. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the AfD became the strongest party, while the CDU historically slipped. In Berlin, the Left triumphed with Elif Eralp. The election results have intensified coalition disputes over care, pensions and taxes, while talk shows like Maischberger's show are fueling the debate about the role of the chancellor and the future of the CDU.

The US Department of Defense has praised Germany's efforts to increase defense spending before the US Congress and cited the Federal Republic as a model for other NATO allies. Germany aims to reach the five percent target for defense spending by 2029, five years earlier than agreed.

After her hospital stay, 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal can return to her previous apartment after her lawyer negotiated with the owners. At the same time, the Spanish government is planning a tenant protection decree that would suspend evictions for two years and extend rental contracts until 2028 - a proposal that falls short of the demands of the tenants' union and sparks protests in several Spanish cities.

US President Donald Trump has denied an alleged offer to China to sell arms and possible easing of sanctions against Iran. He contradicted statements made by his ambassador to China, David Perdue, who had spoken of such an offer. Beijing responded cautiously, emphasizing its defense needs while Taiwan remains under pressure.
In the podcast, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner warns of increasing polarization in the Bundestag, criticizes the behavior of AfD and Left MPs and threatens to exclude entire parliamentary groups in the event of escalation in order to ensure the plenary debate.