(de-news.net) – During the Bundestag’s general debate on the chancellor’s budget, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz advocated for a renewed societal consensus on justice as the foundation for far-reaching social reform. He emphasized that the reform agenda must address core questions of equity, particularly in pension policy, where the generational compact required reassessment. Merz asserted that older citizens should be assured economic security in retirement, while younger generations ought not to bear disproportionate burdens due to demographic shifts.
The Chancellor also defended his administration’s foreign and security policy, characterizing it as reform-oriented and intrinsically linked to domestic governance. He argued that safeguarding internal freedoms and prosperity necessitated active international engagement. In support of this position, he cited a 60% reduction in asylum applications between August 2024 and August 2025 as evidence of effective migration policy, countering claims of political ineffectiveness.
Merz reiterated his commitment to structural reforms in welfare, healthcare, and pensions, framing them as essential rather than incremental. SPD parliamentary leader Matthias Miersch expressed continued support for the coalition’s reform program, while underscoring the importance of social protection and advocating for greater fiscal contributions from high-net-worth individuals.
The debate, traditionally the focal point of budget week, featured pointed exchanges between government and opposition. AfD leader Alice Weidel initiated the session by accusing Merz of ideological detachment and self-satisfaction. She called for stricter eligibility criteria for social benefits and the elimination of citizen income for Ukrainian refugees, while criticizing the government’s fiscal and migration policies.
Further criticism emerged from Die Linke and the Greens. Left Party leader Heidi Reichinnek condemned the government’s prioritization of defense spending over social welfare, whereas Green MP Katharina Dröge defended support for Ukraine as a moral imperative. Budget spokesperson Schäfer accused the government of treating the 10% investment quota as a ceiling rather than a minimum and of failing to fully utilize available special funds. He noted that while reform commissions had been established, substantive coalition consensus remained elusive.
The Bundestag is expected to approve the 2025 federal budget on Thursday. The draft outlines 502 billion euros in expenditures and nearly 82 billion euros in new debt, alongside additional off-budget allocations for infrastructure, defense, and climate-related initiatives.
