Overview
- The Haushaltsausschuss, which approved the budget on Friday, cleared a plan that raises core spending to €560.9 billion and increases net new borrowing to about €123 billion.
- The culture and media budget was lifted to a record €2.58 billion, directing €280 million to the KulturInvest programme and up to €50 million for a monuments special fund while film support was cut to roughly €200.7 million.
- Lawmakers also authorised large new debt through special funds, with €57.8 billion for infrastructure and climate and €29.6 billion for the Bundeswehr, pushing total new borrowing well above pandemic-era levels.
- The deal reflects sharp coalition bargaining and remains politically fragile because a Koalitionsausschuss meeting on 17 November could still alter items such as a proposed electricity-tax cut.
- Leading economists and the auditor warn the financing path cannot be sustained after 2027 and municipal leaders are pressing for immediate federal relief, including calls for about €30 billion per year to shore up local budgets.