Skip next section AfD attacks government over debt in budget debate
09/24/2025September 24, 2025
AfD attacks government over debt in budget debate
The co-chair of the far-right , Tino Chrupalla, has accused the German government of pursuing a “debt binge,” citing planned new borrowing of about €174 billion next year.
“You are recklessly wasting the capital of future generations,” Chrupalla said as he opened the Bundestag’s general debate on the chancellery’s budget, the first time he has led the opposition response in this session.
Chrupalla criticized high energy prices, the tax and levy burden, and spending on climate protection and the citizens’ benefit programs,as well as arguing that migration costs primarily strain the social welfare system.
His co-chair, Alice Weidel, led the opposition remarks during last week’s debate on the current-year budget.
https://p.dw.com/p/50z6I
Skip next section Merz to speak at budget debate, not UN
09/24/2025September 24, 2025
Merz to speak at budget debate, not UN
While other world leaders address the United Nations General Assembly, is speaking as part of the Bundestag’s deliberations on Germany’s 2026 federal budget.
Leaders of the other parliamentary groups also plan to take the floor as part of the general debate, which is traditionally used for a broad confrontation over the federal government’s policies as a whole.
Later in the day, the individual budgets for the foreign, defense and development ministries are scheduled.
The budget debate began on Tuesday with the presentation of the draft by Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil from the center-left Social Democrats.
Another general debate in the Bundestag took place only last week. The focus then was still on the 2025 federal budget, which had been delayed because of Germany’s February election.
The Green Party on Tuesday criticized Merz for staying in Germany as the General Assembly opens in New York, where about 150 world leaders are gathering this week.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is representing Berlin as Merz instead focuses on the federal budget week and a key constitutional court election in the Bundestag.
https://p.dw.com/p/50z2Z
Skip next section Court to rule on accident pension for TV stunt performer
09/24/2025September 24, 2025
Court to rule on accident pension for TV stunt performer
Nearly 15 years after his on-air accident, Germany’s Federal Social Court is set to decide whether actor Samuel Koch qualifies for a statutory accident pension.
Koch, then 23, was paralyzed during the December 2010 live broadcast of when he attempted to leap over five moving cars on spring stilts and struck the fourth vehicle, driven by his father.
The show’s format was the basis for the British show “You Bet!” and the American show “Wanna Bet?”
Now 37, Koch applied in 2020 for an accident pension, arguing he was volunteering for a public broadcaster. A lower court rejected the claim, finding that he organized the stunt himself for personal publicity rather than as part of a public-service role.
https://p.dw.com/p/50z60
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage09/24/2025September 24, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Tag from the DW newsroom in Bonn.
You join us with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to spar at home over Germany’s 2026 budget.
The chancellor is set to face off with party leaders in the Bundestag’s big general debate before lawmakers dive into the foreign, defense and development budgets.
The opposition Green Party has grumbled about Merz’s absence from the general assembly in New York, where Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is representing Germany — returning to New York after flying to Berlin for the budget debate.
https://p.dw.com/p/50z5M
The post Germany updates: Merz addresses Bundestag on budget appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
