German Federal Chancellery says Merz outlines government renewal agenda - Speech Brief
9 July 2026 06:25 UTC · German Federal Chancellery · German Chancellor Statement · Source · Email X Link

German Federal Chancellery says Merz outlines government renewal agenda

Key points

  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz says government pursuing renewal
  • Plans include major tax, pension, health and labor-market reforms

TL;DR

  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz says the coalition set out just over a year ago as a government of renewal and is pursuing broad reforms.
  • The coalition committee agreed a large reform package aimed at more flexibility for companies, preserving the welfare state, and tax relief for employees.
  • Merz cites specific measures: active pension uptake (more than 10,000 employees in the first half of 2026) and basic security that came into force on July 1.
  • Planned reforms include tax relief for lower and middle incomes with somewhat higher taxation of the highest incomes, pension changes to reverse contribution and benefit trends, labor-market dynamism, and tax-law simplification proposals by autumn.
Original text

Die Koalition habe sich „als Regierung der Erneuerung auf den Weg“ gemacht, sagte Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz im Deutschen Bundestag. Foto: picture alliance / dpa/ Andreas Gora „Wir sind ein starkes Land: wirtschaftlich, politisch und auch gesellschaftlich“, sagte Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz i n seiner Regierungserklärung zur aktuellen politischen Lage im Deutschen Bundestag. Die Regierung habe sich vor gut einem J...

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