Greens accuse Union and SPD of breaking promise on constitutional amendment for special assets - Germany's €500B Infrastructure Fund Sparks Political Uproar Over Misuse
A political dispute has erupted over the misuse of Germany's €500 billion special infrastructure fund. The Green Party accuses the ruling coalition of breaking promises by diverting the money to plug budget gaps instead of funding new projects. Meanwhile, FDP leader Christian Dürr has called on Chancellor Merz to reverse course amid growing criticism.
The fund was created in March 2025 with a 12-year spending plan. Its purpose was to finance additional infrastructure, such as bridges, schools, and climate protection measures. The Greens had helped secure the required two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, ensuring the money could only be used for new investments.
After just one year, reports revealed that 86-95% of the €24.3 billion borrowed in 2025 had not gone toward investments. Instead, the funds were redirected to cover existing budget shortfalls. Economics professor Lars Feld, from the Ifo Institute, admitted he was not surprised by the findings. Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner sharply criticised the coalition for betraying their agreement. She argued that the misuse of funds undermined public trust in politics. The CDU/CSU and SPD were accused of breaking their word on the constitutional amendment that exempted the debt brake for this fund. Brantner stressed that the money should have supported functional infrastructure and climate action. Now, she claims, the coalition has failed to deliver on its commitments. FDP leader Christian Dürr added pressure by demanding Chancellor Merz change direction. The controversy has intensified as opposition parties question the government's handling of public finances.
The special fund was meant to boost Germany's infrastructure over a decade. But within a year, most of the borrowed money was used for other purposes. The political fallout continues as critics push for accountability and a return to the original plan.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
