Bundestag Returns from Summer Break Amid Budget Controversy

As the Bundestag resumes work after its summer break, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has criticized the traffic light coalition’s budget policy, particularly the global underspend of 12 billion euros in the 2025 budget. Merz described this amount as “the largest number that has ever been written in a budget draft” and accused the government of attempting to “cheat on the budget figures.”

Merz expressed concerns that the government’s budget policy is unsustainable, comparing it to a family who cannot pay their restaurant bill and hopes the innkeeper will lower the prices. He predicted that this issue will trigger long discussions in the budget committee.

The 2025 budget law, which will be presented by Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Tuesday, foresees spending over 488 billion euros, with 51.3 billion euros to be financed through new debt. The draft budget includes a global underspend of 12 billion euros, which is the largest funding gap in a government draft for the federal budget in the last twenty years.

Merz also criticized the federal government for making irresponsible commitments, including legally binding obligations on budget spending for future years. He argued that this will create problems for future governments and described it as “the true madness of this budget.”

The opposition leader did not rule out the possibility that the Federal Constitutional Court may become a budgetary risk for the traffic light coalition, as was the case with the 2023 budget ruling. He noted that if the federal government loses another 12 to 13 billion euros annually, it will be very difficult.

The solidarity surcharge, which has been a point of contention for the FDP, is also a topic of discussion. While the FDP wants to see it removed completely, Federal Finance Minister Lindner has planned for a solidarity income of 12.75 billion euros in the budget for the coming year.