{"id":320293,"date":"2025-12-21T07:56:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T07:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=320293"},"modified":"2025-12-22T08:41:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T08:41:13","slug":"__trashed-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=320293","title":{"rendered":"German government signals \u2018challenging years\u2019 of austerity ahead while spending tens of billions on Ukraine and immigration"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Remix News Staff \u2013 Dec 19, 2025<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Merkel-what-could-go-wrong.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpa-warning wpa-image-missing-alt aligncenter size-full wp-image-200853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Merkel-what-could-go-wrong.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-warning=\"Missing alt text\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Merkel-what-could-go-wrong.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Merkel-what-could-go-wrong-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>The German government is signaling times of austerity are ahead for Germans, with German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) even saying there could be years of belt-tightening.<\/p>\n<p>Klingbeil, a member of the far left SPD, is preparing the German public for a period of financial hardship, even as the country spends at least <a href=\"https:\/\/www.welt.de\/wirtschaft\/article248386590\/Flucht-und-Migration-kosten-dieses-Jahr-fast-50-Milliarden-Euro.html\">\u20ac50 billion a year on migrants<\/a>, including for their housing, education, security, and integration. In addition, tens of billions have already headed to Ukraine, with another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tagesschau.de\/ausland\/europa\/eu-ukraine-finanzierung-einigung-100.html\">\u20ac19 billion directly from Germany planned<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on the ZDF program \u201cDas Jahr 2025,\u201d the SPD chairman warned of \u201cvery challenging years\u201d ahead, stating that citizens would \u201calso have to be asked to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"de\">\u201eJeder wird sp\u00fcren, dass wir sparen\u201c \u2013 Klingbeil k\u00fcndigt harte Einschnitte f\u00fcr die Deutschen an.<\/p>\n<p>Aber erst mal 181,5 Milliarden Euro f\u00fcr die gesichert korrupte Ukraine &#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bV6cOAQALg\">https:\/\/t.co\/bV6cOAQALg<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VPhOzwnpw9\">pic.twitter.com\/VPhOzwnpw9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 spaceloop23 \uf5fd (@spaceloop23) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/spaceloop23\/status\/2001634406197592295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone will feel that we are saving,\u201d Klingbeil explained, emphasizing the necessity of cuts. However, he pushed back against the narrative that the nation is facing fiscal ruin. \u201cWe are not broke. The country is not on the brink of collapse,\u201d the finance minister stated, rejecting the impression of impending financial failure.<\/p>\n<p>According to Klingbeil, while the nation\u2019s problems are solvable, they will come with consequences. He highlighted a funding gap of \u20ac60 billion for 2028 alone, which cannot be closed without making serious cuts that people will notice.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"62RXiQRWbn\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/almost-every-german-city-is-now-on-the-verge-of-bankruptcy\/\">&#8216;Almost every German city is now on the verge of bankruptcy&#8217;<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;&#8216;Almost every German city is now on the verge of bankruptcy&#8217;&#8221; &#8212; Remix News\" src=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/almost-every-german-city-is-now-on-the-verge-of-bankruptcy\/embed\/#?secret=C1tN9M0z0F#?secret=62RXiQRWbn\" data-secret=\"62RXiQRWbn\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Klingbeil\u2019s announcement comes at a time when German municipalities across the country are <a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/almost-every-german-city-is-now-on-the-verge-of-bankruptcy\/\">teetering on the edge of bankruptcy<\/a>. Many officials are also complaining that the historic debt package the government passed, which totals \u20ac1 trillion, will not fill the holes in the budget.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Essen\u2019s Mayor\u00a0Thomas Kufen (CDU), who is also a member of the CDU federal executive board, sounded the alarm, saying:\u00a0\u201cAlmost every German city is now on the verge of bankruptcy.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"rFX90gmebE\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/germany-cost-of-housing-migrants-in-berlin-hits-nearly-e1-billion-in-2024-nearly-triples-in-4-four-years\/\">Germany: Cost of housing migrants in Berlin hits nearly \u20ac1 billion in 2024, nearly triples in 4 four years<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Germany: Cost of housing migrants in Berlin hits nearly \u20ac1 billion in 2024, nearly triples in 4 four years&#8221; &#8212; Remix News\" src=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/germany-cost-of-housing-migrants-in-berlin-hits-nearly-e1-billion-in-2024-nearly-triples-in-4-four-years\/embed\/#?secret=7uqnNmxxmI#?secret=rFX90gmebE\" data-secret=\"rFX90gmebE\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, only\u00a010 out of 396 cities and municipalities can present a balanced budget, and these alarming figures from Germany\u2019s largest federal state can be applied to the\u00a0\u201centire country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Kufen stressed that the crisis is universal, affecting municipalities regardless of their location:\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s new is that all cities have their backs against the wall,\u201d\u00a0he told\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bild.de\/politik\/inland\/essen-ob-schlaegt-alarm-fast-jede-deutsche-stadt-vor-der-pleite-691c89a6073d0eb6833e4134\">Bild newspaper.<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"mL0rzOhrlw\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/the-end-of-welcome-culture-majority-of-germans-want-immigration-moratorium-mass-deportations-and-believe-too-many-legal-migrants-arrived\/\">The end of &#8216;Welcome Culture&#8217; \u2013 Majority of Germans want immigration moratorium, mass deportations, and believe too many legal migrants arrived<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;The end of &#8216;Welcome Culture&#8217; \u2013 Majority of Germans want immigration moratorium, mass deportations, and believe too many legal migrants arrived&#8221; &#8212; Remix News\" src=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/the-end-of-welcome-culture-majority-of-germans-want-immigration-moratorium-mass-deportations-and-believe-too-many-legal-migrants-arrived\/embed\/#?secret=hxjEyU9Uc0#?secret=mL0rzOhrlw\" data-secret=\"mL0rzOhrlw\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>He warned that\u00a0\u201cbudget freezes would now have to be imposed everywhere,\u201d\u00a0including in many cities previously considered wealthy.<\/p>\n<p>Although Klingbeil did not provide specific details on the planned measures, he announced that a complete package would be presented at a later date by the party leaders of the CDU, CSU, and SPD. He stressed that these measures must be designed fairly: \u201cThe goal is that everyone contributes their part and not just one group.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not just the federal government, but also at the ground level in cities, budget cuts are being made, and they are expected to get worse, all while cities like Berlin are spending record amounts on migrant accommodations. A new report shows Berlin spent <a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/germany-cost-of-housing-migrants-in-berlin-hits-nearly-e1-billion-in-2024-nearly-triples-in-4-four-years\/\">nearly \u20ac1 billion last year<\/a>, all while making deep budget cuts in areas such as culture, education and transport.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"86p3Z6oWu5\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/germany-in-historically-deepest-crisis-with-economy-in-free-fall-warns-president-of-federation-of-german-industries\/\">Germany in &#8216;historically deepest crisis&#8217; with economy in &#8216;free fall,&#8217; warns president of Federation of German Industries<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Germany in &#8216;historically deepest crisis&#8217; with economy in &#8216;free fall,&#8217; warns president of Federation of German Industries&#8221; &#8212; Remix News\" src=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/germany-in-historically-deepest-crisis-with-economy-in-free-fall-warns-president-of-federation-of-german-industries\/embed\/#?secret=CZl46FZr13#?secret=86p3Z6oWu5\" data-secret=\"86p3Z6oWu5\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>However, Klingbeil is also calling on his own party to embrace change. He argued that the SPD must be prepared to overcome the status quo, noting that the perception of weakness had recently harmed the party.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSocial democracy is successful when it leads change and not just accompanies it,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n<p>The announced austerity measures and the government\u2019s fiscal management have drawn sharp rebuke from the opposition, particularly the Alternative for Germany (AfD).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"o1mHrT41Do\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/german-industry-in-freefall-as-automotive-sector-hits-record-lows\/\">German industry in freefall as automotive sector hits record lows<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;German industry in freefall as automotive sector hits record lows&#8221; &#8212; Remix News\" src=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/german-industry-in-freefall-as-automotive-sector-hits-record-lows\/embed\/#?secret=o9uNOK8nvr#?secret=o1mHrT41Do\" data-secret=\"o1mHrT41Do\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>AfD co-leader Alice Weidel strongly condemned the government\u2019s course, characterizing the coalition\u2019s fiscal policy as a\u00a0\u201cBlack-Red debt orgy at the expense of Germany\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The AfD parliamentary group has further described Klingbeil\u2019s budgetary drafts as\u00a0\u201ccatastrophic for Germany,\u201d arguing that the government\u2019s approach places undue burdens on citizens while failing to address structural issues. Critics from the party have repeatedly emphasized that \u201cthe money is not reaching the people\u201d and have warned against what they view as the mismanagement of public funds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rmx.news\/article\/eu-agrees-to-e90-billion-loan-for-ukraine\/\">Source\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new report shows Berlin spent a record amount on migrant housing, all while making deep budget cuts in areas such as culture, education and transport. This is Angela Merkel&#8217;s real legacy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39262,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[66,97],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-320293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-Economics","category-european-migrant-crisis"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/39262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=320293"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":320314,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/320293\/revisions\/320314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=320293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=320293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=320293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}