Coalition: Merz penetrates social reforms – “means cuts”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz insists on urgent reforms of the social systems, which should also lead to cuts. “The way it is now, especially in the so-called citizens’ allowance, it cannot stay and will not stay,” he said at a state party conference of the North Rhine-Westphalian CDU in Bonn. It must be changed for more employment and growth. “We have to get to the social security systems.” The black and red coalition is aiming for several legislative proposals in autumn.

The Chancellor said: “That will mean painful decisions. That will mean incisions.” However, it should be ensured that health, care and pension insurance-“the great achievements of our welfare state”-will continue to be efficient and not overwhelmed in the future. Among other things, personal responsibility must also become stronger.

“Life about our conditions”

The CDU boss made it clear again with what you have today with what was generated. “We have been living over our conditions for years.” Politicians are responsible for this. The government wants to change this and ensure that the young generation also has a chance of prosperity and safe jobs, said Merz.

That is “a tedious way”. However, he was “determined to go this way and to get this coalition to really renew the country,” emphasized the Chancellor. The tops of the Union and SPD coalition factions had decided on a work plan with projects at a closed conference in Würzburg, which are to be implemented after the summer break. This includes a redesign of the civil allowance system agreed in the coalition agreement.

Chancellor also penetrates the austerity course

At the same time, Merz made it clear that despite the decided, much greater debt opportunities for defense and infrastructure had to be saved. This does not take out the pressure to consolidate for the budgets. “If we really want to invest the money that we are now taking up with debts, then the expenses of public budgets cannot continue to grow unlimited.” You have to convey that to the population.

With a view to better framework conditions for more growth, the party leader said: “Of course we would like more as a CDU.” In a coalition, however, the struggle for the right way is part of it. “We encourage the Social Democrats that we too. But we are in a common government and we want the success of this joint government.” And: “Not every disagreement is an argument immediately.”

Help for the old debts of the municipalities in early 2026

Merz said: “For the coming weeks and months, I would like the important debates to lead with all seriousness, but always with the openness to the arguments of the other person.” After a lot of arguments and breakdowns, as with the broken constitutional judge in the Bundestag before the summer, the parliamentary tips have now agreed to make a closer coordination.

The Chancellor announced that a regulation to compensate for the debt of particularly affected municipalities should come into force in early 2026. “This will be a small contribution of the federal government to relieve what has remained in the past of the past,” he said of the old debt aid, which is also anchored in the coalition agreement. If municipalities are no longer able to act and that fundamental services of general interest can no longer be guaranteed, “then democracy there is first of the dogs,” warned Merz.