The traffic light household: risk, hope or dizziness?

The traffic light household: risk, hope or dizziness?

A red alarm for the traffic light coalition! While the political leaders lose themselves in endless debates, the budget in 2025 remains a central issue. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner are under pressure, because their savings efforts are more than just fragile - they are risky!

Above all, the debt brake remains a hot iron. Here is trembling for every euro! The federal government converts grants for the railway into an equity syringe that does not count in the calculations. A clever trick? Or a dangerous game with the state treasury?

the risky hope of hope

And now the big bet: a global less output of a whopping 12 billion euros! This sum relies on the traffic lights that the ministries have money left at the end of the year because projects are bursting or funding. But how constitutionally relaxed is this approach? Constitutional lawyer Hanno Kube states that this optimism is "very clearly above the experience from the past". A signal that is quite alarming for the traffic lights, because it could be the largest cover gap in two decades.

What if this gap cannot be closed until winter? Tax increases, additional funds from citizen benefit recipients and the new growth package are anything but safe. The Union has massive constitutional concerns. Chief housekeeper Christian Haase is certain: "The budget equalization is tricked to save yourself over the legislative period."

coalition crisis in sight

Dissatisfaction within the coalition cooks over! Green housekeeper Sven-Christian Kindler leaves no doubt about it: "No law goes without any changes." Crisis aid and development aid are shortened - an intolerable condition for the Greens. SPD housekeeper Dennis Rohde also wants to hear suggestions in order to push the financing gap to less than ten billion euros. The need for action is obvious, even if FDP parliamentary group vice Christoph Meyer assures that 2.4 billion euros are "manageable".

The big question mark remains the Ukraine aid. Four billion euros are on paper, but according to the violent expenses of the previous year, it is still uncertain whether this is sufficient. The hope of an international financing concept for Ukraine hovers like a sword of Damocles over this budget.

The schedule is as exciting as the discussions themselves: after the first budget week, each line is taken to a close look before the final budget is discussed in a spectacular adjustment meeting in November. Nostalgically, we think of the legendary marathon sessions, which often last until the morning-will that be the case this time?