The SPD, as well as the opposition Left Party, have spoken out against this year’s planned pay rise for members of the Bundestag. Chancellor Merz is set to visit the Digitalization Ministry one year after his coalition created it.

Here is the latest news from around Germany on Thursday, May 7:

Ruling coalition at odds over salary increases

In July, members of Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, are due to get automatic pay rises that have long been in place for German public servants in order to keep up with inflation.

However, junior coalition partner the Social Democrats (SPD) as well as the opposition Left Party are calling for the increase to be scrapped in right of the economic situation.

According to official statistics, prices have exploded across Germany and inflation in April 2026 was a staggering 2.9%. Costs of basics like coffee and eggs have increased by at least 14% compared to 2020, and heating oil and other fuels by at least 20%. Some 58% of German households reported that they are currently in saving-mode.

However, senior coalition partners the Christian Democrats (CDU) have argued that the pay rises should go forward as planned.

Jens Spahn, the CDU’s parliamentary leader, told public broadcaster ARD on Thursday that “in principle, we should stick with this mechanism,” saying that the automatic system functions better than it did pre-2014, when lawmakers got to set their own raises at a certain amount of money.

At the same time, parliamentary co-chair of the Left Party Heidi Reichinnek said that lawmakers “earn enough” and should respect the situation of ordinary Germans.

Bundestag members will have their base salary before tax increase to €12,330 ($14,500) a month on July 1, up from €11,833 a month.

Welcome to our coverage

Good morning from our newsroom in Bonn on this 81st anniversary of Nazi Germany’s initial surrender to the Allies in 1945.

Today we will cover a fresh dispute within Germany’s ruling coalition, as well as Chancellor Friedrich Merz visiting the Digitalization Ministry one year after its creation.

Check back here for all the latest headlines, reports, and analyses from across Germany today.