The traffic light wish list goes beyond the scope

Berlin Shortly before Christmas, the federal ministers received mail from Christian Lindner (FDP). The country is facing major challenges, which the traffic light coalition wants to combine with a “solid budgetary policy,” wrote the Federal Minister of Finance. Announcements of projects that are not counter-financed are “not expedient because we are raising expectations that may prove to be unfulfillable,” was Lindner’s appeal for austerity.

However, Lindner’s holiday letter did not bring the ministers to their senses. On the contrary: According to information from the Handelsblatt from government and coalition circles, the wishes in the budget negotiations have exploded. The ministries want almost 400 billion euros more than previously planned for further expenditure by 2026.

For this year alone, the wish list amounts to 70 billion euros. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) made particularly high additional demands.