Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's state audit office has sharply criticized the rising number of civil servants, financial burdens, and deficiencies in police storage of seized drugs in its recently published 2026 annual report. President Martina Johannsen calls for a review of beaming practices. Interior Minister Christian Pegel (SPD) plans to supplement the rules.
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Days before the planned cabinet decision, the SPD warns against overburdening insured individuals with Health Minister Nina Warken's savings package. The SPD demands more cuts from pharmaceutical companies and efficiency measures. The Greens have presented their own counter-concept.
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Henning Otte has criticized shortcomings in the Bundeswehr's personnel structure in his first annual report and warned of overstretching the troops. He points to a disproportionate number of officers relative to enlisted soldiers and a low proportion of women. Otte calls for growth in the forces and advises reassessing deployments in the Middle East.
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Following backlash to his recent comments, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) assured no cuts to statutory pensions at a CDU event. Saxony-Anhalt Premier Sven Schulze (CDU) reiterated demands for pension reform to address East Germany's unique reliance on state pensions.
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken's (CDU) draft law to stabilize statutory health insurance—building on her April 14 announcement of the Finance Commission's 66 savings proposals—is now public, aiming for nearly 20 billion euros in relief by 2027. Coalition partners, especially the CSU, criticize the burden distribution amid a looming 15 billion euro deficit.
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Top associations of independent welfare organizations warn of cuts to social services due to financial strains. More than 80 percent of those surveyed expect reductions in aid for youth, the elderly, and the sick. Diakonie President Rüdiger Schuch sharply criticizes the federal government and calls for greater financial support.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on coalition partner SPD to lift blockades on reform projects. At an event of the German Banks Association in Berlin, he announced serious talks for the evening. Energy policy, pension reform, and statutory health insurance are in focus.
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The police union GdP anticipates up to 4,500 officers for the nuclear waste transport from Jülich to Ahaus in North Rhine-Westphalia. Landeschef Patrick Schlüter compared the effort to football derbies. Interior Minister Herbert Reul would prefer to skip the transports if possible.