Overview
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the Bürgergeld file a "leidiges Thema," described negotiations as "mühevoll," and said final formulations are still being drafted.
- Reports say Economics Minister Katherina Reiche sought changes to the Labor Ministry's draft, while the Labor side maintained it had already coordinated the text with the Chancellery.
- The planned cabinet discussion was dropped from this week's agenda, and reports also noted no item on extending Kurzarbeitergeld.
- Media reports point to Wednesday, December 17, as the new target for a cabinet decision, with the coalition committee set to discuss the issue Wednesday evening.
- SPD parliamentary manager Dirk Wiese said he expects a cabinet approval next week and criticized Reiche's reported veto.