Manifesto → coalition → law
What has the Merz coalition actually delivered?
A selective tracker of high-profile CDU/CSU and SPD commitments. Status describes implementation, not whether a policy is effective or desirable.
- Tracked records
- 7
- Status date
- 7 Sep 2026
- Evidence checked
- 20 Sep 2026
Status at a glance
Seven commitments, four outcomes
Each count refers to implementation status as of 7 September 2026. It does not score whether the policy works or whether it is desirable.
Policy records
From promise to implementation
Replace Bürgergeld with stricter basic security
ImplementedThe new Grundsicherung began replacing Bürgergeld on 1 July 2026, with stronger placement priority and tighter sanctions and asset rules.
Sources [6][44][50]Trace the four stages
- Election promiseDirect commitment
The Union proposed replacing Bürgergeld with a stricter Neue Grundsicherung based more strongly on Fördern und Fordern.
Evidence [6] - Coalition agreementCoalition compromise
The CDU, CSU and SPD coalition agreement adopted a negotiated basic-security reform.
Evidence [44] - Legislative actionEnacted
The Bundestag passed the reform on 5 March 2026 and the Bundesrat approved it on 27 March.
Evidence [50] - ImplementationIn effect
The law entered into force in stages, restoring placement priority and changing sanctions, protected assets and housing-cost rules.
Evidence [50]
€15 minimum wage in 2026
Partial / compromiseThe statutory rate rose to €13.90 in 2026 and is scheduled to reach €14.60 in 2027; the €15 campaign target was not legislated for 2026.
Sources [10][44][51]Trace the four stages
- Election promiseDirect commitment
The SPD campaigned for a statutory minimum wage of €15 in 2026.
Evidence [10] - Coalition agreementCoalition compromise
The coalition retained the independent Minimum Wage Commission rather than fixing the campaign amount in the agreement.
Evidence [44] - Legislative actionTarget not reached
The government implemented the commission's recommendation by ordinance; it did not legislate €15 for 2026.
Evidence [51] - ImplementationIn effect
The minimum wage rose to €13.90 an hour, with a further increase to €14.60 scheduled for 1 January 2027.
Evidence [51]
Corporate investment and tax relief
Implemented / underwayThe investment programme introduced accelerated depreciation, while staged corporate-tax reductions are scheduled to begin in 2028.
Sources [6][44][52]Trace the four stages
- Election promiseDirect commitment
The Union proposed lower business taxation, investment incentives and a total corporate tax burden of about 25 percent.
Evidence [6] - Coalition agreementDirect commitment
The coalition accepted an investment programme and a staged reduction in corporate taxation.
Evidence [44] - Legislative actionEnacted
The investment programme entered into force with degressive depreciation of up to 30 percent for qualifying investment.
Evidence [52] - ImplementationUnderway
Accelerated depreciation is available; five annual corporate-tax reductions are scheduled from 2028 to 2032.
Evidence [52]
Lower electricity costs
Changed / targetedNetwork-fee support and removal of the gas-storage levy reduced costs, while minimum electricity tax remained targeted at producing businesses and agriculture.
Sources [6][10][44][53]Trace the four stages
- Election promiseRelated position
The coalition parties promised energy-cost relief, but differed on the instruments and intended beneficiaries.
Evidence [6][10] - Coalition agreementCoalition compromise
The coalition combined broad network and levy relief with targeted electricity-tax reductions.
Evidence [44] - Legislative actionEnacted
The adopted package funded network-cost relief, removed the gas-storage levy and retained targeted electricity-tax relief.
Evidence [53] - ImplementationIn effect
The government reports roughly €10 billion of energy-cost relief from 2026, with the tax minimum limited to producing, agricultural and forestry businesses.
Evidence [53]
Keep the pension level at 48% through 2031
ImplementedThe 2025 pension package extended the 48 percent floor through 2031, and it applied to the July 2026 pension adjustment.
Sources [10][44][54]Trace the four stages
- Election promiseDirect commitment
The SPD made stabilising statutory pensions a central social-security commitment.
Evidence [10] - Coalition agreementDirect commitment
The coalition adopted continuation of the 48 percent pension-level floor through 2031.
Evidence [44] - Legislative actionEnacted
The 2025 pension package extended the statutory Haltelinie through 2031.
Evidence [54] - ImplementationIn effect
The 2026 pension adjustment used the 48 percent floor when setting the new pension value.
Evidence [54]
Replace the previous heating-law framework
ImplementedThe Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz replaced the previous framework and removed the blanket 65 percent renewables requirement from 29 July 2026.
Sources [6][44][55]Trace the four stages
- Election promiseDirect commitment
The Union promised to repeal and replace the previous heating-law approach with a more technology-open framework.
Evidence [6] - Coalition agreementDirect commitment
The coalition agreement included replacement of the previous building-energy framework.
Evidence [44] - Legislative actionEnacted
The replacement law was adopted by the Bundestag and Bundesrat and published in the Federal Law Gazette.
Evidence [55] - ImplementationIn effect
The main rules took effect, including removal of the uniform 65 percent renewables requirement for heating systems.
Evidence [55]
€500bn infrastructure and climate special fund
Funding underwayThe twelve-year €500 billion framework is legally in force, and federal allocations began flowing during 2025.
Sources [6][10][44][56]Trace the four stages
- Election promiseRelated position
Party programmes contained competing investment and debt-rule approaches; the final €500 billion instrument was negotiated after the election.
Evidence [6][10] - Coalition agreementCoalition compromise
The fund formed part of the post-election fiscal compromise underpinning the coalition's investment programme.
Evidence [44] - Legislative actionEnacted
Following the constitutional amendment and implementing legislation, the fund entered into force retroactively from 1 January 2025.
Evidence [56] - ImplementationUnderway
The government reports €24 billion in federal investment from the fund by the end of 2025; commitments may be approved over twelve years.
Evidence [56]