Policy delivery
What has the Merz coalition actually delivered?
A selective tracker of high-profile CDU/CSU and SPD commitments. Status means implementation as of 7 September 2026—not whether the policy is effective or desirable.
Replace Bürgergeld with stricter basic security
Central Union promise; coalition agreement adopted a compromise reform.
The new Grundsicherung began replacing Bürgergeld from 1 July 2026, restoring stronger work-placement priority, changing asset/housing rules and tightening sanctions.[50]
€15 minimum wage in 2026
SPD campaign goal; coalition kept the independent Minimum Wage Commission.
The statutory minimum is €13.90 in 2026 and is scheduled for €14.60 in 2027. The government explicitly did not legislate €15 for 2026.[51]
Corporate investment and tax relief
Core Union competitiveness agenda, also accepted in coalition.
The investment programme introduced degressive depreciation and a scheduled corporate-tax reduction. The government describes the investment booster as already in force.[52]
Lower electricity costs
Both coalition partners promised household and industrial relief, but instruments differed.
Network-fee subsidies and removal of the gas-storage levy reduced costs; the electricity-tax minimum was kept for producing businesses and agriculture rather than extended to every household.[53]
Keep pension level at 48% through 2031
Major SPD social-security priority adopted by the coalition.
The 2025 pension package extended the 48% “Haltelinie” through 2031; it applied to the July 2026 pension adjustment.[54]
Replace the previous heating-law framework
Union flagship promise, negotiated with SPD.
The Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz replaced the previous Gebäudeenergiegesetz framework. Core changes took effect on 29 July 2026, including removal of the blanket 65% renewables requirement for heating replacement.[55]
€500bn infrastructure & climate special fund
Post-election fiscal compromise enabled by constitutional change and coalition legislation.
The fund is legally in force with a 12-year €500bn credit framework; federal investment allocations were already flowing in 2025–26.[56]