Germany’s Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has formally requested that his cabinet colleagues submit detailed proposals for consolidating the federal budget. This move is now prompting calls from the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for concrete savings measures.
CDU parliamentary group vice-president Mathias Middelberg described the Finance Minister’s letter as a “first important step towards budget consolidation” adding that all ministers must now deliver, as opportunities for consolidation and savings exist within every portfolio.
Middelberg also highlighted an agreement within the governing coalition to review the necessity of all state responsibilities and to initiate a critical assessment of tasks and expenditures this year. He pointed to significant budgetary gaps projected from 2027, framing this as both a challenge and an opportunity to enhance the efficiency and fitness of the German state.
The request from Minister Klingbeil, delivered via a letter to his cabinet colleagues, calls for a “joint effort” to address a substantial 30 billion euro financing gap anticipated in the federal budget for 2027.
