Overview

• The draft totals about €630 billion — roughly €521 billion in the core budget plus around €107 billion from special funds — financed by approximately €174 billion in new borrowing.
• In the Generaldebatte, Merz described the period as one of the most challenging in recent history and rejected accusations of a social‑state “Kahlschlag.”
• Greens leader Britta Haßelmann criticized his absence from the UN General Assembly after President Trump’s address and objected to his linkage of critics on the far left and far right.
• Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder faces an estimated €20 billion funding gap through 2029 despite more than €21 billion allocated from the €500 billion infrastructure special fund.
• On the ground, municipalities remain uncertain about funding flows for projects such as roads in Boxberg, and state protection is investigating suspected sabotage after a cable fire shut a Heinsberg rail section.