Germany’s likely next Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is expected to make significant decisions on social expenditures in the coming weeks. In an interview with RTL’s “Nachtjournal Spezial” on Tuesday, Merz stated, “We need a fiscal check on our entire budget.” He added, “We have excessive social expenditures, even on the local level and we must now put everything to the test.”

Merz mentioned the heating law, citizen’s allowance and high costs of migration as examples of areas in need of a review. “All of this needs to be put on the testing ground. We are now facing hard decisions and we must set new priorities” he said.