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.