Comment on the budget: The coalition is on the fence

Commentary Black-red budget The coalition is on the rocks As of: November 13th, 2026 • 4:40 p.m

The federal budget for the coming year is in place. But the agreement has no direction, no ambition and no vision. The Union and SPD not only lack money, but above all courage and a strategy.

The coalition must be congratulated. She actually created a budget. The traffic light government failed because of this. So, hats off! Is that serious? No. Not just because this budget is the lowest common denominator - without direction, without ambition, without vision. He also shows that the coalition is on its feet.

The Union has initially rejected the sugar tax. The plastic tax doesn't come at all and the SPD has prevented cuts in the social sector. So a preventative budget and from a financial perspective that is peanuts compared to what the economists are demanding and what is really necessary: ​​namely a big hit. Reforms first and tough decisions, the opposite of peanuts. For example, environmentally harmful subsidies: get rid of them. Pension at 63: finally abolish it.

But how is this coalition supposed to do that when it's already choking on peanuts? The Union and SPD not only lack money, but above all courage and a strategy. Making Germany future-proof is what it’s all about. Don't burden the younger generation with everything, debt after debt.

Where are the plans, the ideas, the visions? And if you don't have the financial resources, then having the right priorities is even more important.

Now everyone is talking about the electricity tax. It's a promise that has been made for two years: lower electricity taxes for everyone. If this is implemented, most people won't even notice. This cannot be a noticeable relief. It's more about something else, about credibility, because that's being lost here. A promise has been broken again and that is a serious one.

At least the Union has recognized that. That's why the topic of electricity tax will be raised again on Tuesday when the coalition leaders meet in the Chancellery. It's about five billion euros and some from the Union want to cancel Söder's mother's pension. But it is just as likely that Söder will agree to this as that he will soon become a vegan.

And even if they pull another five billion out of the hat to reduce the electricity tax, that won't improve this budget either. Debts are piling up and people don't even know what for. The coalition agreement says: Responsibility for Germany. A patchwork household at the expense of the younger generation is the opposite of this.

This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | Comment: This budget shows that the coalition is on its feet | 11/13/2026 | 3:29 p.m