The German government’s first hundred days have been marked by intensive activity and significant achievements, according to Vice Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. In an interview with “Rheinische Post” Klingbeil acknowledged the period has been far from a period of respite.
He highlighted several key successes during this initial phase, including the approval of two federal budgets, the implementation of an economic growth package, an agreed-upon pension reform, a pre-existing consensus on a special infrastructure fund and commitments on defense spending.
Addressing the recent cancellation of a judicial election just before the summer recess, Klingbeil urged greater reliability from coalition partners. He emphasized the importance of honoring agreements and expressed the need for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to be able to depend on such commitments. The situation surrounding the nomination of Frauke Brosius Gersdorf to the Federal Constitutional Court was cited as an example where this expectation was not met, overshadowing the coalition’s prior accomplishments.
Regarding his working relationship with Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz, Klingbeil described it as “trusting.
Looking ahead to the autumn, Klingbeil expressed cautious optimism. He underscored the importance of the coalition’s success and the responsibility shared by all involved. Drawing from interactions with business leaders, citizens and various organizations, he noted a widespread public desire for collaborative problem-solving. He also stated the current governing dynamic is demonstrably different from the previous “traffic light” coalition government.