While other world leaders address the United Nations General Assembly, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is speaking as part of the Bundestag’s deliberations on Germany’s 2026 federal budget.
Leaders of the other parliamentary groups also plan to take the floor as part of the general debate, which is traditionally used for a broad confrontation over the federal government’s policies as a whole.
Later in the day, the individual budgets for the foreign, defense and development ministries are scheduled.
The budget debate began on Tuesday with the presentation of the draft by Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil from the center-left Social Democrats.
Another general debate in the Bundestag took place only last week. The focus then was still on the 2025 federal budget, which had been delayed because of Germany’s February election.
The Green Party on Tuesday criticized Merz for staying in Germany as the General Assembly opens in New York, where about 150 world leaders are gathering this week.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is representing Berlin as Merz instead focuses on the federal budget week and a key constitutional court election in the Bundestag.
