Berlin – The possible chancellor of Germany, Friedrich MerzHe is asking legislators on Tuesday to allow the country to “what is necessary” in defense, since doubts increase on the strength of the transatlantic alliance, and authorize a huge fund for investment in its crunchy infrastructure, financed by strong loans.
The outgoing parliament will meet for the last time to vote In plans While Merz’s Union-Right block works to elaborate a ruling coalition with the Social Democrats from the center of the outgoing Olaf Scholz. Last month’s choice.
The plans will need a two -thirds majority in the lower house of Parliament, the Bundestag, because they imply changes in the strict rules of indebtedness self -imposed from Germany: the so -called “debt brake”, which allows new loans to be worth only 0.35% of the annual gross internal product and anchor in the Constitution. Which forced the possible partners of the coalition In negotiations With environmental green, whose votes will be necessary to obtain enough support.
The package would exempt from the expense of debt and security rules, including intelligence agencies and assistance to Ukraine, of more than 1% of GDP. It also plans to establish a fund of 500 billion euros ($ 544 billion), financed by loans, to see funds in Germany infrastructure in the next 12 years and help Restore the economy – The largest in Europe – Growth.
At the insistence of the greens, 100 billion euros of the investment fund will be allocated to expenses related to the climate.
The plans are equivalent to a change in Merz, whose party had spoken against running new debts before the elections without completely closing the door to future changes in the “debt brake.” The social democrats and the greens had long defended a reform of the indebtedness rules.
The last weeks have brought a new urgency to efforts to strengthen even more Long military. The outgoing government created a special fund of 100 billion euros to modernize it, which also helped Berlin meet NATO’s current objective to spend 2% of GDP in defense. But that boat will be put in 2027, and doubts have recently grown up on the commitment of the Trump administration with European allies.
Merz said Earl this month That Germany and Europe must quickly strengthen their defense capacity and that “whatever is necessary” must also go to our defense now. “
He told Ard Television Sunday that “the situation has intensified once again dramatically in recent weeks” and that Germany’s budget had turned out to be worse than what was previously known.
From Tuesday’s vote, he said: “It will be close, but it will work.”
“Of course, there is still a persuasion to do in the three parliamentary groups, but we should not help less this opportunity,” he said.
The package is taking the old Parliament, instead of the newly elected, which will celebrate its first session on March 25, because the parties that are unlikely to agree on a third of the seats in the new camera. The extreme right Alternative for Germany He portrays himself as a firm defender of the “debt brake”, while the left party opposes him, but is skeptical about military spending.
In the outgoing Bundestag, the Union, the Social Democrats and the Greens have a combined 520 of the 733 legislators, 31 more than required for a two -thirds majority.
If the package is approved on Tuesday, it faces another obstacle on Friday in the Upper House of Parliament, which represents the 16 state governments of Germany. They will also be given more freedom to ask for money.
A two -thirds majority in the upper house will also be needed. That was initially uncertain because the games behind the plans control only 41 of the 69 votes at the top of the house. But on Monday, the ruling coalition led by the conservative in Bavaria, who has six votes, also agreed to support the package.
