Budget debate: Union accuses traffic light coalition of “budgetary shambles”

The opposition accuses the traffic light government of only planning its budget for the coming year up to the federal election. The draft by Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) follows the principle of “after me, the deluge,” criticized CDU MP Yannick Bury in the final round of budget week in the Bundestag. “It is a budgetary shambles that they will leave behind for this country.” Funding programs could run out of funds as early as the first months of 2025.

AfD budget officer Peter Boehringer also criticized: “The government is trying everything to drag itself through until autumn 2025.” But the money will run out right on time for the federal election – and a new finance minister will then have to immediately declare a budget freeze.

Lindner accused the Union of not presenting any solutions for the budget itself. He also called on the CDU and CSU to ensure that the planned growth initiative gets through in the Bundesrat. “What is possible this autumn to get our country back on the road to economic success must also happen. Make sure that this is possible in the Bundesrat,” he said.

After the first budget week, it is the turn of the budget makers in the Bundestag in the coming months. They are examining where the federal government’s draft budget still needs to be changed – and how the currently large funding gap of 12 billion euros can be reduced. This will culminate in the so-called reconciliation meeting of the budget committee before the budget is to be approved in the Bundestag at the end of November.