Top meeting: Coalition under power: Does relief for everyone come?

It is the first major domestic nail sample for the black-red government alliance: In the coalition committee, the leaders from the Union and SPD have to prove that they are able to compromise on difficult topics such as reducing electricity tax. Two protagonists will be the focus.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has so far cut a good figure on the international stage. Now he has to prove that he can also boost the economy and improve the mood in the country. “Of course, I already have more intentions than just managing crisis,” he said on Tuesday evening in the ARD program “Maischberger”.

The Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is weakened in the coalition committee after the clap at the election as SPD chairman and has to prove himself again – in a new constellation. For the new social democratic co-party leader Bärbel Bas it is the premiere in the circle of the most powerful coalition politicians, whom she is now the only woman and has to accept it with ten men.

Electricity tax: What does it jump out for consumers?

Everyone is primarily looking at one topic: does the reduction in electricity tax come to everyone? The cabinet has launched relief for energy prices on January 1, 2026. The network charges, part of the electricity price, are to be reduced and the gas storage levy for gas customers is to be abolished.

With electricity tax, the lowering of industry, agriculture and forestry should be “stabilized”. However, contrary to the announcement in the coalition agreement, it should not be reduced for everyone, i.e. not for all companies and for private households. This triggers broad criticism from business associations, unions and social associations – but also within the Union. Criticism came from Union faction leader Jens Spahn and NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (both CDU). This in turn ensures annoyance in the SPD.

Before meeting the coalition tips, Merz spoke openly for a possible expansion of the electricity tax reduction – but only if the counter -financing is secured.

According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, a reduction in electricity tax for all consumers would cost around 5.4 billion euros in the coming year. Counter -financing should be difficult. The coalition would have to cut back on other projects.

The economy penetrates reliability. “The companies need clear perspectives and need to know what they can trust in the coalition’s economic policy,” said DIHK President Peter Adrian of the German Press Agency. “Many companies are urgently waiting for relief in energy and labor costs.”

Citizens’ allowance: how much can be saved?

The coalition wants to save in the civil allowance. The devil should be in detail here. According to DPA information, it should be 1.5 billion euros according to the first plans next year, later the savings amount should increase to 4.5 billion euros. The “Bild” newspaper first reported about it. First of all, sanctions should be tightened. Then a fundamental reform should follow with a recalculation of the control rates.

According to the Federal Employment Agency (BA) in Nuremberg, around 32,900 people were last shortened after 24,700 a year ago – in February 2025 -. In view of 5.5 million citizens’ money, this makes it clear by experts that there are no enormous savings. According to the BA, 3.9 billion euros in citizens’ money flowed to the so -called beneficiaries in March, which is hardly a change compared to March 2024. In March 2023 it was 3.5 billion euros.

The coalition committee should also be about the pension. The planned first black and red pension package is to cost billions of taxpayers from the taxpayer’s wallet. “We cannot afford that pension expenses increase even more than anyway,” employer President Rainer Dulger has already written the coalitioner in the family book. However, the pension cost spiral should only start at 4.1 billion euros in 2029. According to the law plans of Minister of Social Affairs BAS, the position is to increase up to 11.2 billion euros in 2031.

Above all, the planned stabilization of the pension level is to be paid at 48 percent over the current year – and thus further pension increases in step with wage development in Germany. Without a stable pension level, the growing change of the birth-strong baby boomer years would have a pension in such a way that the pensions no longer rise as much as wages.