Brandenburg's budget 2025/26 decided: protests and party -internal rebellion

Brandenburg's budget 2025/26 decided: protests and party -internal rebellion

Berlin, Deutschland - The Brandenburg state parliament decided on Friday the double budget for the years 2025 and 2026 with a narrow majority. The government coalition of the SPD and BSW under Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke voted for the budget, which has the highest amounts since 1990 at 16.8 billion euros for 2025 and 17.4 billion euros for 2026. Despite the significant sums, the MPs are faced with massive protests, which were triggered in particular by cuts in the education. Tens of thousands of citizens had demonstrated, while a BSW MP, Sven Hornauf, positioned himself as a rebel within the coalition and voted against the household, which again illustrates the tensions within the coalition.

Finance Minister Robert Crumbach defended the controversial plans and pointed out the ongoing economic crisis. He emphasized that Brandenburg would spend ten percent more for education in 2025 than in 2024, despite the planned cuts of 345 teaching positions and an additional compulsory lesson per week. These measures have led to protests by teachers, educators and parents who reacted to the savings plans with persistent demonstrations and announcements. The union for education and science (GEW) already announced new protests to mobilize against the cuts in the education system. Tagesspiegel reports that the coalition did not record any absences among the members of the deputy, which was decisive for the narrow outcome.

controversial cuts and changes

On the edge of the budget debate, cuts for municipalities were partially withdrawn. This agreement between the Brandenburg state government and the municipalities was described by the Ministry of Finance as a "fair compromise". These returns were important because municipal umbrella organizations had threatened with complaints and many cities and municipalities could get into the budget protection. According to the Brandenburg district council, the agreement was rated positively because it enables the counties not to adjust their households again in the current year or to have to make deletions. RBB24 also reports of "deep red" and a "record deficit" in the previous year, which increased the pressure on the coalition.

Nevertheless, the challenges remain great. The budget now decided will probably require future conflicts and possible cuts, which puts the stability of the government alliance to test. A MP has already noticed that the rebellions within the coalition often affect the topics that have little influence on the actual government work, which raises questions about the long -term strategy. The coalition could be prepared in the coming time to find further compromises to take into account the continuing tensions in the population.

The increase in the new debts - one billion euros for 2025 and 1.25 billion euros for 2026 - and the central role of general interest in the household underlines that Brandenburg is faced with difficult decisions. The next double household must be decided next year, which presents the government coalition with additional challenges. RBB24 emphasizes that the decisions of the next few months will be decisive for how the political landscape in Brandenburg is developing.