Double budget polarizes parliamentary groups in the state parliament

The 2025/2026 double budget for Saxony polarizes the parliamentary groups in the state parliament. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), with whom the minority coalition of CDU and SPD had initially negotiated the budget, did not leave a good mark on the figures shortly before the vote. "This budget is far removed from reality and far removed from the mood in the Free State," said BSW parliamentary group leader Sabine Zimmermann and spoke of patchwork.

CDU, SPD, Greens and Left Party want to secure a majority together

In the previous week, the CDU and SPD had agreed on a budget with the Greens and Left Party. As the coalition is ten votes short of a majority in parliament, it is reliant on support from the opposition. In return, the Greens and the Left were able to implement their own ideas and prevent some of the planned cuts in areas such as social welfare, culture and nature conservation.

BSW sees no willingness to change from the coalition

In Zimmermann's opinion, no strategy can be read from the budget. Although the coalition wants to be a coalition of the reasonable, there is not much reason in the budget. The local authorities are the big losers and their plight will continue to worsen. The left and the Greens were now the "stapes holder for a continuation of the same old way". The BSW had been elected for change and could not agree to this budget.

The AfD also signaled its rejection - as did the non-attached MP Matthias Berger, who sits in the state parliament for the Free Voters. He pointed out that the Greens and the Left are now part of the government. Two thirds of Saxon voters would have voted conservative in the state election on September 1, 2024. At the time, the CDU received 31.9% of the second votes and the AfD 30.6%. Berger predicted that Saxony would slide into a "debt orgy" in the coming years.

Sören Voigt, Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU parliamentary group, assumed that a majority in favor of the budget would be achieved in the final vote on Thursday. All seven Green MPs want to vote in favor, while five out of six Left Party MPs want to vote in favor. "I think we can do it," said Voigt. It is about the country and not about the parliamentary group or party.

The CDU and SPD had agreed on a consultation mechanism with opposition groups in view of the lack of a majority in parliament. The AfD is not taking part. At the final state parliament sessions before the summer break, the coalition parties want to support one motion each from the Left and the Greens. The Left Party is calling on the government to advocate the full assumption of costs by the federal government for the transfer of tasks to local authorities. The Greens want the Tour de France cycling race to start in Saxony in 2030.