Politics · Germany · 49 mins ago
Union MPs criticize budget and tax deal with SPD
More than 30 CDU and CSU lawmakers criticized a deal with the SPD at a late-night meeting in Berlin.
The agreement covers next year's budget and new taxes, but several Union lawmakers said it gave too much to the SPD.
They focused on the dropped cut to electricity tax, which the Union had campaigned for and included in its coalition agreement.
Some lawmakers also objected to new taxes, including a sugar tax planned for 2028, and questioned proposed transfers of public-sector profits to the federal budget.
The dispute has raised doubts about whether the Union leadership can secure enough support for the compromises.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil may need to resolve the dispute, though no outcome is stated.
More than 30 CDU/CSU lawmakers criticized the party leadership’s budget and tax deal with the SPD at a special parliamentary group meeting.
The lawmakers objected that the agreement did not include a planned cut to electricity tax while accepting new taxes.
CDU politician Paul Ziemiak said the party was losing credibility by failing to secure the electricity tax cut.
CDU finance expert Olav Gutting said the SPD had prevailed on its priorities while the Union had secured none of its core goals.
Some Union lawmakers also questioned whether proposed transfers from state institutions to the federal budget were legally possible.
- Who
- More than 30 CDU/CSU lawmakers criticized the deal. CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei briefed them.
- What
- Lawmakers objected to budget and tax compromises with the SPD, particularly the absence of an electricity tax cut.
- When
- The special meeting took place on 12 November 2026 and continued late into the night.
- Where
- Berlin.
- Why
- Critics said the Union had accepted new taxes without securing key priorities, including a cut to electricity tax.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The CDU presidency retreat decided on a specific proposal to cut electricity tax.
CDU/CSU lawmakers met in a special session to hear about the agreement, and the meeting continued late into the night.
- Lawmakers speaking at the meeting
- More than 30
- Electricity tax cut
- Not included in the deal
- Sugar tax
- Planned for 2028
- Opposition to new taxes
- More than 20 CDU and CSU lawmakers signed a list against them
- Transfer from BImA
- More than €1.5 billion proposed
- Transfer from KfW
- €1.5 billion proposed
What people are saying
And the only thing we wanted, the electricity tax cut, is not happening!
We are losing all credibility.
I only feel sorry for ourselves. With all understanding for compromises, I simply no longer understand this.
I do not consider this possible under the KfW law!