The party leader of the Left Party Dietmar Bartsch has sharply criticized the Federal Government's € 130 billion economic stimulus program. Although "sensible decisions were made for municipalities and families, the program was also not very targeted, not very sustainable and incredibly expensive," said Bartsch. Bartsch described the temporary reduction in VAT as "economically absurd". At the same time, the package contains too little on the topics of education and the future - but "a lot of lobbying".

The climate expert of the left faction Lorenz Gösta Beutin also criticized the economic stimulus program. The decisions would "not trigger a real ecological restart in Germany". Beutin criticized specifically that corona aid for companies is not linked to binding climate regulations. The coalition "missed a great historical opportunity" for the climate rescue. However, he also praised that the coalition decided against a purchase premium for petrol and diesel cars.

According to the environmental organization Greenpeace, the economic stimulus package is "at best pale green". Some sensible investments in climate protection would be "superimposed by many measures that distribute money across the board with the watering can, for example through reduced VAT," said Greenpeace climate expert Tobias Austrup. He said the federal government would miss an "historic opportunity to make an ecological move". He asked the members of the Bundestag to improve the package in this regard.

FDP parliamentary group leader Michael Theurer believes that the economic stimulus package contains "some good, important aspects", but overall the coalition "has stumbled mightily with this wild smorgasbord of half-baked, very expensive but inefficient proposals". The Central Real Estate Committee ZIA welcomed the reduction in VAT. This is good news for millions of employees and an important step towards saving city centers, said ZIA President Andreas Mattner.

Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses praises tax relief

The German Association of Cities and Towns welcomed the coalition's program. "The association of cities and municipalities is relieved that the coalition partners have formulated a clear rescue umbrella for the municipalities," said the managing director of the municipal association Gerd Landsberg of the Rheinische Post . It gives the municipalities the necessary scope to make the necessary investments this year and next.

CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer also praised the coalition's stimulus package as an investment in sustainability, recovery and optimism. "With this power pack, we live up to our great responsibility for the future viability of our country," said Kramp-Karrenbauer. "We are investing in the upswing and creating optimism in all areas". Kramp-Karrenbauer rejected that the SPD had prevailed in the economic stimulus package - for example with the family bonus and the purchase bonus for electric cars only. The reduction in VAT supports consumption, including the purchase of cars, while at the same time promoting the further development of climate-friendly mobility, said Kramp-Karrenbauer. "That very well bears the signature of the CDU."

Liquidity aid and tax relief are good for small and medium-sized companies, but the federal government has failed to sustainably strengthen the competitive activity of companies, said Mario Ohoven, President of the Federal Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. A corporate tax reform was therefore necessary for this.

With the economic stimulus program, the Federal Government is providing families and local authorities with more money. A reduction in the price of electricity and a reduction in VAT are also planned. With the stimulus package, the grand coalition wants to boost the economy in the corona crisis. 

According to Research Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU), almost half of the 130 billion euros for the package will go to future areas such as the hydrogen economy, quantum technologies or artificial intelligence. Deutsche Bahn (DB) will be provided with five billion euros to increase its equity. Aid of 2.5 billion euros is also planned for local public transport.

In addition, industries that are particularly affected by the Corona crisis are to be supported with "bridging aids" to a maximum of 25 million euros. This is to prevent a wave of bankruptcies in small and medium-sized companies.