Business group: German MPs should cancel summer recess to pass reforms

June 6, 2026 - 23:55

The Family Business Association has called on the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, to cancel this year's summer recess. The group argues that lawmakers should use the time to debate and pass urgent reforms instead of taking a break. "Under no circumstances should the summer break be allowed to happen," a spokesperson for the association stated. They warned that delaying key economic and regulatory changes would harm the country's competitiveness.

Germany's economy has faced mounting pressure from high energy costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and a slowing industrial sector. The association, which represents thousands of family-owned firms, insists that the current political gridlock is unacceptable. They point to stalled legislation on tax relief, digital infrastructure, and labor market flexibility as examples of inaction.

Critics of the proposal, however, note that canceling the recess would require broad parliamentary consensus, which is unlikely given the fragmented political landscape. The ruling coalition, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has struggled to pass major bills due to internal disagreements and opposition from conservative and far-right parties. Still, the Family Business Association maintains that the situation is dire enough to warrant extraordinary measures. "We cannot afford to wait until September," the spokesperson added. "Every week of delay costs jobs and investment." The debate over the recess comes as Germany faces a potential recession, with GDP shrinking in recent quarters.