Overview
- The panel announced its choice in Marburg on January 13 after reviewing 2,631 public submissions.
- In public debate the term denotes off‑budget funds financed by new borrowing, which the jury says hinders open discussion of fiscal choices.
- The critique cited the debt‑funded €500 billion infrastructure and climate fund created outside the regular federal budget.
- “Zustrombegrenzungsgesetz” placed second for framing migration as a threatening mass, and guest juror Ronen Steinke chose “Umsiedlung” as his personal pick.
- Political and media reactions followed, with the Finance Ministry defending special funds as transparent and figures such as Green leader Britta Haßelmann and Left co-chair Sören Pellmann commenting on the choice.