Once a trend is established it tends to persist and to run it’s full course.
At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But it will also need additional revenues. Should the government not receive them, we will all get punished with higher interest rates.
What works for Germany can't work for the rest of Europe: No country can run a chronic surplus without others running deficits.