Germany’s population will feel change in their everyday lives from the government’s massive investment drive, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Tuesday.

“We are tackling now what has been neglected in our country for years,” Klingbeil said as he presented his draft 2025 budget to lawmakers in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. “We want citizens to feel that something is changing in their everyday lives.”

Klingbeil, who also serves as vice chancellor in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s administration, said that the government wants to strengthen citizens’ trust in the state by proving its capability to act.

People will notice “that the pothole that has been annoying for years is suddenly being fixed, that the school toilet which has been out of use for years is being repaired, that charging stations for electric mobility are available even in villages, that the swimming pool is getting new showers, that the rails are being renovated, the bridges stabilized and the fibre optic cable laid,” he said.

The Finance Ministry expects to invest €115 billion ($135 billion) this year, financed from the core federal budget as well as special funds agreed earlier this year to hike investments in infrastructure and environmental protection.

Money is set to flow into the Bundeswehr – the German military – as well as railways, education and research, climate measures, digitalization and social housing.

However, Klingbeil warned that the government, which took office in May, is also seeking to cut excessive spending in the budget.

The minister’s draft budget was approved by the German Cabinet last month despite a dispute over cuts in the electricity tax.

The measure must still be passed in parliament, which is sitting for its final session before the summer recess this week.

-dpa