Campaign Focuses on Individual Rewards over Collective Prosperity in First 100 Days of Merz's Election
Germany's Merz Government Faces Criticism Over Broken Promises and Climate Policy
After 100 days in office, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition government is facing criticism for broken promises and challenges in delivering on key campaign pledges, particularly in the areas of fiscal flexibility, social welfare reform, and climate action.
Political Context
Following the 2025 federal election, the CDU/CSU alliance, led by Merz, formed a coalition with the SPD. With 28.5% of the vote, this was the second-worst result historically for the CDU/CSU, necessitating a coalition with the SPD [1][3]. The coalition's aim was economic recovery, reducing energy prices, and efficient governance, but early on, internal conflicts and communication issues emerged [2].
Broken Promises and Political Challenges
One of the government's earliest challenges was easing the constitutional debt brake to allow more government borrowing. However, this move faced legal challenges and conservative resistance, leading to frustration among voters [2]. Merz also declared that social welfare reforms were necessary, emphasizing sustainability without raising taxes on medium-sized companies, a stance that may cause coalition friction [4].
Climate Goals and Energy Transition
Delivering on energy and climate commitments is proving to be one of the coalition's main challenges, particularly given the legacy of delayed action from the previous government. Despite high expectations, progress on the energy transition remains uncertain, with lingering doubts about achieving climate targets swiftly due to political complexity and energy security concerns [2][5].
The government has initiated a “reality check” on the energy transition to reassess electricity demand, supply security, grid expansion, renewable energy growth, and hydrogen ramp-up, indicating a cautious recalibration of climate policies [5]. However, concerns have been raised about the government's commitment to renewable energy, with Katherina Reiche, the Economic Minister, questioning the climate goals while the majority of people are already fighting the consequences of the climate crisis [6].
Infrastructure Investments
Although economic recovery and infrastructure investment (including energy infrastructure) were campaign priorities, concrete results within the first 100 days have been limited, and internal disputes have slowed decision-making [2]. The fiscal constraints imposed by the debt brake and increasing social welfare costs complicate large-scale infrastructure spending plans [4].
The draft budget prioritizes short-term individual interests over the prosperity, health, and security of all. Instead of investing in future technologies, Reiche is cutting the promotion for private solar panels. The draft budget includes 3.4 billion euros for subsidizing gas prices, contributing to the climate crisis [6].
Future Outlook
The Germany ticket will become more expensive, and there is a threat of historical price increases of far more than ten percent for train tickets in 2025. No single additional rail project will be implemented in the budget draft, and the state-controlled construction of gas power plants will increase electricity bills for all citizens [6].
It is high time to correct the false start of the Merz government and still save what can be saved. The draft budget contains tricks that conceal the use of funds for expensive election gifts without growth or modernization impulses [6]. The energy transition was unleashed under Robert Habeck's tenure, but the federal government under Friedrich Merz is choosing a costly, climate-damaging, and economically dangerous path by planning 20-gigawatt gas power plants [7].
[1] Germany election: Merkel's CDU/CSU alliance wins, but with lowest vote share since 1949
[2] Germany's Merkel-Successor Merz Faces Internal Challenges Early On
[3] Germany's Merz wins CDU leadership race, sets up coalition with SPD
[4] Germany's Merz government faces early challenges in fiscal policy
[5] Germany's Merz government faces tough choices on energy transition
[6] Germany's Merz government under fire for broken promises, climate policy
[7] Germany's Merz government plans 20-gigawatt gas power plants, critics say it's a step back from renewable energy
- The German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is facing criticism for failing to deliver on their climate policy promises, as displayed in the area of environmental science and policy-and-legislation.
- Amidst the General News, alleged broken promises by the Merz government, particularly concerning climate action, have been a topic of contention, given the country's commitment to addressing climate-change.
- In the political context, as Merz's government wrestles with the challenges of climate action, questions about its commitment to environmental-science and energy transition remain unanswered.
