The leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has reaffirmed his support for the candidacy of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf for the Federal Constitutional Court and is advocating for a renewed vote within the Bundestag. Concerns raised by the opposition regarding alleged plagiarism accusations against Brosius-Gersdorf have, in his view, been addressed, allowing the vote to be returned to the parliamentary agenda. Klingbeil emphasized that proceeding with the vote is a matter of principle, particularly given what he perceives as an attempt to undermine a highly qualified female candidate through the influence of right-wing online networks.
Despite the internal coalition disagreements surrounding the judicial appointment, Klingbeil praised his strong working relationship with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), describing their communication as “close and trusting”. He stated that they maintain constant dialogue.
Acknowledging the significant challenges facing the black-red coalition government, Klingbeil urged discipline and unity among parliamentary representatives. He predicted “difficult votes” throughout the legislative term and stressed the need for governing factions to stand together. He intends to prioritize issues of employment, economic stability and structural reforms.
Klingbeil has increased pressure on the CDU regarding the planned reform of the debt brake, a commitment outlined in the coalition agreement. Due to the government coalition’s reliance on the support of the Green party and the Left party for constitutional changes to the debt brake, some members of the opposition have distanced themselves from the proposal. Recent resistance included a rejection of substantive collaboration with the Left party by CSU leader Markus Söder.
He insisted that existing agreements must be honored, stating, “We agreed to reform the debt brake to enable more investment. I cannot imagine a party abandoning agreed projects after just a few weeks.
Addressing the looming budget shortfalls, the Finance Minister has been instructed by the government to implement a strict austerity program. He noted a significant deficit projected for 2027 and issued a clear directive to all ministries: “Now is the time to examine where savings can be made. Everyone will have to save.
As Finance Minister, Klingbeil plans to focus on combating tax evasion and shadow work, believing that “a great deal of money can be recovered” through targeted measures. He drew a parallel to the scrutiny of citizen’s income benefits, asserting that similar oversight is necessary for individuals and entities with substantial wealth to ensure fairness within the tax system.
