Bundestag votes on budget – delay expected in Bundesrat

Day five of five of the budget week in the Bundestag: Today the plenary session votes on the government’s financial plan. This also affects the cuts in agricultural diesel. But even after that they are not sealed.

All’s well that ends well? No. The federal budget for 2024 should actually finally clear the last hurdles today. But that is no longer to be expected. The Bundestag is likely to pass the 477 billion euro budget today – at least around two months later than originally thought.

The Federal Constitutional Court declared the handling of billions in Corona loans to be unconstitutional in November. This ruling caused severe turbulence for the traffic light coalition. But it is not only the Bundestag that has to finally deal with the budget, but also the Bundesrat. And there the Union is blocking.

Union blocks in the Federal Council – without an absolute majority

The Union does not yet want to deal with the so-called Budget Financing Act in a shortened procedure. This regulates, among other things, that the tax breaks for agricultural diesel should be gradually eliminated. Farmers have been taking to the streets for weeks against this plan by the traffic light government.

The Union-led countries still see a need for discussion on the issue. However, this will probably only delay the process – until the next regular Federal Council meeting on March 22nd. Then the law will probably be on the agenda. The Union alone does not have the necessary absolute majority in the Federal Council to object to the law.

The fact that the Union is taking a stand should therefore be seen primarily as a signal to farmers. According to the motto: Look, we are at your side.

Also for Regulatory control action majority is likely to be missing

Another lawsuit against the budget before the Federal Constitutional Court is not expected. From the AfD’s point of view, the budget again violates the rules of the debt brake because too many loans would be taken out. But this view is not shared by the CDU and CSU.

A quarter of the members of the Bundestag would be needed for a so-called regulatory review action. The AfD faction alone cannot come up with this number.