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Tension in the Potsdam state parliament: double budget before a decisive vote!
On June 19, 2025, the Brandenburg state parliament will vote on a controversial double budget of 33 billion euros.
Tension in the Potsdam state parliament: double budget before a decisive vote!
The Potsdam state parliament is currently experiencing an exciting phase, as intensive discussions on the double budget have been taking place there since Wednesday. A considerable budget totaling 33 billion euros will be voted on on Friday. This sum represents the highest expenditure recorded by the state of Brandenburg since its re-establishment in 1990. But the majority of the SPD/BSW coalition is extremely narrow with just two votes, which further inflames the situation. How maz-online.de Reportedly, roll calls take place several times a day to ensure that all MPs are present.
What if the budget does not receive the necessary majority? Such a failure could mean the end for the coalition under Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD). The vote itself requires a simple majority of 45 votes. The coalition, consisting of 32 votes from the SPD and 14 from the BSW, has set itself a narrow limit of 46 votes. However, if the budget is rejected, this would lead to provisional budget management, which would significantly tighten the financial conditions. The Daily Mirror reports on the tense conditions and the impending consequences.
Financial challenges
A look at the numbers shows Brandenburg's financial difficulties. Expenditure is estimated at 16.7 billion euros for 2025 and 17.4 billion euros for 2026. In order to finance this, the budget envisages taking on around two billion euros in new debt. This could increase the country's debt to around 24 billion euros. In the past, the prime ministers managed significantly smaller budgets, which were around 10 billion euros. Political education in Brandenburg provides interesting background information on the structure of the budget and local financial management.
The challenges in education are making waves: cuts in the education sector are a hot topic and are already triggering protests. A petition with over 21,000 signatures was presented to the state parliament protesting against the planned cuts in the school sector. Among other things, it affects the increased number of compulsory hours for teachers and a reduction in the personnel budget by 50 million euros. Despite increasing student numbers, there will be 345 fewer teaching positions, which further fuels the concerns of teachers, students and parents.
Political tensions in the state parliament
The political discussion is characterized by sharp criticism of Finance Minister Robert Crumbach (BSW) from the AfD and CDU. The general mood is tense as further cuts are called for, particularly in the area of tolerance projects and for refugees. However, the SPD education politician Elske Hildebrandt has announced that she will approve the budget both individually and as a whole. The pulpit becomes the scene of heated debates while the MPs hope for a narrow majority.
In this mixed situation, it is important to take a close look at the various individual plans that will continue to put the red-purple majority to the test. It turns out that the upcoming third reading on Friday is planned without further debates, which does not make the explosiveness of the vote any less exciting. Brandenburg is therefore facing a decisive turning point in its budget and financial history.