In fact, the parties in the Bundestag should have discussed the state budget for the coming year at the end of November. But on Friday the SPD, the Greens, the FDP and the CDU/CSU canceled the following week’s meetings. After the end of the traffic light coalition, German domestic politics have come to a standstill.
Due to the collapse of the coalition, there is no draft budget that can achieve a majority. That is why a majority of parliamentarians did not consider the meetings necessary. “Without a budget, there is no need for a budget week, it’s that simple,” said FDP parliamentary manager Johannes Vogel in the plenary debate. His SPD colleague Katja Mast spoke of a “special situation” after the loss of the government majority. “SPD, Greens, FDP and Union agree: this budget week is not necessary,” Mast said. Two full weeks of meetings are planned for December, during which the Bundestag can make upcoming decisions.
AfD: “Parliamentary work is being neutered”
AfD parliamentary secretary Bernd Baumann has sharply criticized the cancellation of the budget week and spoke of an attempt to “close parliament”. In his speech to the SPD, the Union, the Greens and the FDP, he said: “In this way you reduce and neutralize parliamentary work.” Left-wing MP Christian Görke spoke of a “grand coalition of irresponsibility”.
Scholz: “Government continues to work”
Scholz wants to continue various projects before the new elections. In his “Chancellor Compact” video on the short-messaging platform X on Friday, Scholz said: “The government continues to work. The Bundestag is also operational. Of course, there must be a majority for any law. But that should not be impossible in our parliamentary democracy.”
As examples he mentions a reduction in payroll tax from January and the planned increase in child benefit. He also advocates continuing to finance the Deutschland ticket. Here, the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag announced on Thursday that it would vote in favor of the necessary change in the law after Scholz requested a vote of confidence, paving the way for new elections.
Finance Minister: No budget, but aid to Ukraine has been secured
According to a report by Spiegel Online, interim Finance Minister Jörg Kukies (SPD) no longer expects a 2025 budget to be approved. This means that all ministries must switch to provisional budget management from January. As part of this, departments are allowed to spend one-twelfth of the previous year’s budget each month. However, Kukies assured that aid to Ukraine would continue to be assured.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
