Under the impression of the international security situation, the Union and SPD agreed on a record -breaking financial package before completing their exploratory talks about the formation of a new government. As the designated Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced on Tuesday evening in Berlin, the debt brake is to be changed in three points.
The factions of the parties involved want to contribute corresponding applications to the change of the Basic Law to the Bundestag in the coming week. “We are aware of the dimension of the tasks ahead of us,” said Merz, referring to the fact that even under a completely changed US policy “the ability to defend our country and the European continent” should be ensured.
The Union and the SPD therefore agreed to exclude all defense spending above one percentage point of economic output from the rules of debt brake. The military budget could currently be financed up to around 43 billion euros. Union Chancellor Merz expressly emphasized that debts can be accepted without a limit to ensure Germany’s security.
„Whatever it takes“
He quoted the former head of the European Central Bank in the phase of euro rescue: “In view of the threats of our freedom and peace on our continent, our defense must now also apply: whatever it take”, in German: “Whatever is necessary”.
So far, it had been assumed that there should be a so -called special fund with a certain sum. There should now be one of 500 billion for the infrastructure.
It should be based on ten years to advance the renovation of bridges, railway lines or schools as well as digitization. The paper for agreement states: “This includes in particular civil and population protection, transport infrastructure, hospital investments, investments in the energy infrastructure, in the educational, support and science infrastructure, in research and development and digitization.”
Söder speaks of “Germany package XXL”
CSU boss Markus Söder spoke of a “Germany package XXL”. A fifth of the total amount, i.e. 100 billion euros, are reserved for countries and municipalities. “Our country is driving on wear,” said SPD boss Lars Klingbeil, who expressly welcomed that the “investment brake is solved”.
His co-chair Saskia Esken said that the new constellation now succeeds, which was unfortunately not achieved in the old one with the FDP. The coalition talks were far from over, but it was very well “set”.
The third amendment to the debt rules in the constitution that Union and SPD want to get on the way is the debt of the federal states. Unlike the federal government, they have not yet been allowed to take loans to a limited extent even in “normal” times.
Three billion aid package planned for Kyiv
The rule should be adjusted accordingly. A more comprehensive reform of the debt brake will then be carried out in the new Bundestag in the course of the year. The changes now proposed should still be decided with the majority relationships of the old parliament.
CDU boss Merz reported that he had already taught the Greens’ parliamentary group leader and the FDP about the joint proposal of the Union and the SPD and now wanted to join them.
On this Wednesday, Merz and Klingbeil still want to teach Olaf Scholz (SPD) about the results before he goes to the EU summit in Brussels, where he can now support the planned billions of bills for a greater European willingness to defend. Merz also said that he wanted to convince Scholz to get a Ukraine weapon aid package that has not yet been released with a volume of three billion euros.