Overview
- MPs followed a longstanding budget ritual by weaving a preselected codeword into closing speeches, choosing “Zukunftswerkstatt Schwein” for 2026.
- SPD’s Felix Döring folded the term into remarks about record investment figures of 118 billion euros in the current year.
- Left party leader Ines Schwerdtner used the gag to criticize the CDU, alleging two million euros were steered to an artists’ village in Jens Spahn’s constituency.
- Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil also played along, casting the codeword as part of the wide range of topics tackled in budget talks.
- Vice President Bodo Ramelow explained the running joke to visitors during the roll‑call vote and stressed that it did not diminish the debate’s seriousness.