Angelika Ahrens
Blatt: Around 20 Union MPs want to vote against tax plans
According to a newspaper report, resistance to the federal government's tax plans is forming in the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Around 20 members of the Union did not want to agree to the project, the “Bild” newspaper (Thursday edition) reported in advance, citing faction circles. On Tuesday, all twelve members of the agriculture working group spoke out against the planned introduction of a sugar tax. The reason given was that tax increases had been excluded in the coalition agreement. There is also criticism in the finance working group. Many members refused to only partially reduce the so-called cold progression in the coming year and called for full compensation.
Angelika Ahrens
Radtke: No microscopic relief from tax reform
The head of the CDU employee wing CDA, Dennis Radtke, is calling for the planned tax reform to provide citizens with significantly greater relief than previously planned. “Unfortunately, the plans fall far short of what would be necessary to relieve the burden on citizens and companies,” Radtke told the “Rheinische Post”. “We don’t just need microscopic relief that can only be guessed at,” he warned.
Last week, the federal cabinet launched the black-red coalition's income tax reform. The draft by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) provides relief that should amount to ten billion euros annually from 2028. Small and medium income earners and families with children in particular should benefit.
Angelika Ahrens
Greens on high fuel prices: Chancellor is letting people down
Against the backdrop of continued rising oil prices, Green Party deputy Andreas Audretsch accuses the federal government of inaction. “Oil companies are currently doubling, tripling or quintupling their profits – at the expense of everyone who has to refuel,” the Green politician told the editorial network Germany (RND). "Germany urgently needs an excess profits tax so that corporations don't continue to use the wars to drive up prices. Friedrich Merz simply says no, without a suggestion or solution, and is letting people down." The price for a barrel of the reference Brent variety from the North Sea passed the $100 mark on Wednesday. Refined products such as diesel rose even more as the conflict in the Middle East spread to the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia.
Vivian Melchert
Energy prices drive up inflation
With the Iran war and high energy prices, the inflation rate in Germany is approaching the three percent mark. The Federal Statistical Office calculated inflation of 2.9 percent for August based on preliminary data. In Europe's largest economy, consumer prices last rose more sharply in December 2023, by 3.7 percent. This Thursday (8 a.m.) the Wiesbaden statisticians will publish the details of the price development over the past month.
The Iran war and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for world trade, has driven up oil and gas prices. Drivers in this country feel this at the gas station, and homeowners feel it when it comes to heating costs. The fuel discount, with which the federal government provided motorists with some relief for two months, expired at the end of June.
In August, consumers in Germany had to pay 10.5 percent more for refueling and heating than a year before. Food prices, on the other hand, barely rose - by 0.1 percent. Economists assume that the level of price increases will remain elevated for the time being. The Ifo Institute expects inflation to be 2.8 percent for 2026 as a whole, and the rate could rise to 3.0 percent in 2027.
Felicitas Dahmen
Pistorius: Germany in Moscow's crosshairs - Bundeswehr budget is a "security promise"
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius justified the planned record defense budget for 2027 with a direct threat from Russia. “Russia is trying to spy on our societies, influence, intimidate, destabilize and, above all, unsettle people,” said the SPD politician on Wednesday in the Bundestag’s budget debate. “We are literally in Moscow’s crosshairs.” The defense budget is therefore not just a large budget, but a “security promise”. Because without security everything else is nothing.
According to the plans, the defense budget is expected to grow to around 140 billion euros in 2027 together with funds from the special fund. The regular defense budget (section 14) provides for expenditure of 109.7 billion euros, with a further 29.9 billion euros to be financed from the Bundeswehr special fund. This would mean that defense spending would increase by around 31.4 billion euros compared to the current year. The largest part of the funds, more than 60 billion euros, will go to military procurement.
Tobias Doering
Laura Thalmeyer
Merz postpones phone call with Trump after AfD congratulations
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has postponed a phone call with US President Donald Trump planned for Wednesday. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius did not give a reason, but indicated that there was no conflict of dates behind it. The background is likely to be Trump's congratulations to the AfD on its election victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Wow, the populist party in Germany had a really big night.” He ended his contribution with “MGGA!!!”, which probably stands for “Make Germany Great Again”. The right-wing US government under Trump has already expressed sympathy for the AfD on several occasions.
The conversation was planned to mark the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Kornelius emphasized that it was important to Merz that the USA could continue to count on the full solidarity of Germany and Europe. The parliamentary managing director of the SPD, Dirk Wiese, had previously called for a reaction from the federal government to Trump's statements: "There has to be a lot of discussion," he said. "This interference is unacceptable. I don't think we as the federal government can tolerate that."
Leonidas Exucidis
The word remigration is nothing more than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color. Friedrich Merz
Bastian Prockner
Miersch calls for unity among democratic parties
Next comes Matthias Miersch, the parliamentary group leader of the SPD. Despite all the arguments, all democratic parties should treat each other better. “If we split up here, there will only be one group that is happy,” says Miersch, referring to the AfD.
Bastian Prockner
Dröge calls for party ban proceedings against the AfD
Dröge believes the AfD is a threat to democracy. She appeals to the MPs that they are only obliged to follow their conscience and that they should initiate party ban proceedings against the AfD.
Bastian Prockner
Dröge demands that the CDU take a clear stance on the AfD
Katharina Dröge appeals to the CDU not to allow itself to be infected by the populism of the AfD. This was the case in the past, for example with the issue of citizens' money.
Bastian Prockner
Weidel in discussions
During her speech, Weidel demanded the plenary's attention. During Dröge's speech, she leaves her seat, walks around and talks to colleagues from her group in the back rows.
Bastian Prockner
Dröge criticizes the government's lack of action on election results in Saxony-Anhalt
The parliamentary group leader of the Greens is missing a clear reaction to the AfD's strengthening in the election in Saxony-Anhalt. “Didn’t you prepare that?” asks Dröge. She would have liked the people in Saxony-Anhalt, who from Dröge's perspective would suffer under an AfD government, to receive support.
Bastian Prockner
Dröge begins with praise for Merz
The opposition does not often praise the government in general debates. Dröge, on the other hand, addresses her word to Merz: “I think it is absolutely right that you entered into this argument with the AfD today.” But she restricts: "That alone is not enough. Many people expect answers from you."
Bastian Prockner
Merz speech over
The Chancellor was combative and attacked the AfD harshly. Now Katharina Dröge, the leader of the Green Party, speaks.
Bastian Prockner
Merz sharply attacks AfD
When it comes to German crafts, Merz sharply attacks the AfD. Every sixth craftsman has a foreign passport. Given the AfD's demands, the system would collapse tomorrow - no nursing home, no hospital, no restaurant could continue to operate.
The Chancellor reacts sharply to the goal of remigration that AfD representatives are promoting. “The word remigration is nothing other than a synonym for ethnic cleansing based on origin and skin color,” says Merz. There is another protest from the AfD, and the President of the Bundestag has to intervene again. “We are not on the football field here,” says Klöckner and threatens to be thrown out.
Bastian Prockner
Merz: “Big mistakes have been made in energy policy in Germany”
Merz criticizes the energy policy in Germany over the past decades. Shutting down power plants too early was a mistake. However, he also promotes the policies of Economics Minister Reiche. We are currently taking the right path towards a reliable energy supply. This path is only possible with renewable energies. The government “of course” keeps an eye on the gas storage levels.
We are getting clear indications that the energy supply will be secure over the course of the winter. Friedrich Merz
Bastian Prockner
Merz reiterates support for Ukraine
The Chancellor once again emphasizes German support for Ukraine. Russia is endangering the free, democratic basic order. The AfD is also endangering this with its Russia-friendly policies. For example, the AfD did not react to the attack at Leipzig airport.
Bastian Prockner
Merz: “The voters have sent a clear signal”
The Chancellor first addresses the election results of the Saxony-Anhalt election. He emphasizes that, contrary to their expectations, the AfD missed out on an absolute majority and 56 percent of people voted for another party. Merz describes the AfD as a destructive force. Nevertheless, the voters also sent a clear message to him personally. Laughter and heckling follow from the AfD. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner must intervene.
Nowhere in Germany will you get a majority with this policy. Ms. Weidel, you are and will remain a destructive force. Friedrich Merz
Bastian Prockner
Now Merz speaks
While Weidel is celebrated by her colleagues in the parliamentary group for her sometimes malicious and aggressive speech, Friedrich Merz takes the lectern. The Chancellor now responds to Weidel's speech.
Bastian Prockner
Weidel predicts an energy shortage in winter
Alice Weidel is now criticizing Economics Minister Katherina Reiche's energy policy. It is a mistake that the government does not continue to rely on Russian gas. Weidel presents a return to nuclear energy as a solution to a possible energy crisis.
AFP
Bastian Prockner
The debate is immediately heated
Alice Weidel quickly comes to criticism of migration policy. The plenary hall reacts to Weidel's remarks with heckling and protests. The opposition leader rejects an interim question from the CDU.
