Overview
- Union and SPD leaders meet Wednesday evening for their final coalition committee of the year, with officials cautioning that marathon talks may produce limited decisions.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed the planned cabinet decision on the Bürgergeld reform would not happen today, with a new target discussed for next week.
- Media reports attribute the delay to a veto by Economics Minister Katherina Reiche on parts of the draft, while SPD floor manager Dirk Wiese expects a cabinet vote next week and publicly criticized Reiche.
- Revisions to the Building Energy Act remain contested, as the CDU seeks to relax the 65% renewables rule for new heating systems and the SPD defends it, while heating manufacturers urge stable rules and continued subsidies.
- Health insurers warn of higher supplementary contributions without a stronger savings package, and the Transport Ministry’s push to fast‑track more projects via an ‘overriding public interest’ designation is still under negotiation with the Environment Ministry.