Germany is back, says Merz after the historical treatment in defense and expense

The conservative leader of Germany, Friedrich Merz, has assured a huge financial package to renew defense and infrastructure, before a vote in Parliament next Tuesday.

Merz, who aims to direct a government with the social democrats in the coming weeks, is in a hurry to boost a great impulse in the expenditure in crispy defense and infrastructure.

After winning the elections last month, he said it was his absolute priority to strengthen Europe because President Donald Trump seemed indifferent to his destiny.

After 10 hours of conversations with the Greens, he said that the agreement sent a clear message to the allies of his country: “Germany has returned.”

He added: “Germany is making its main contribution to the defense of freedom and peace in Europe.”

Merz, who is expected to become the next German chancellor, is offering to obtain his debt and expenses reforms through the outgoing Parliament before recently elected parliamentarians can take their seats in the Bundestag on March 25.

The far -right alternative for the Germany party (AFD) doubled its number of parliamentarians in the elections and could endanger the impulse of Merz expenses if it does not pass on time. The left party also opposes reforms.

According to the Constitution of Germany, Merz needs a two -thirds majority to approve the changes. With the support of green and social democrats, it should succeed.

Urgent motions for both the AFD and the left to challenge the sessions of the next week of the outgoing Parliament failed in the Constitutional Court on Friday, which allows the vote to continue.

The conservative leader of the Christian Democrats said that the tripartite plan agreed by his party, the Social Democrats and the Greens involved:

• A great impulse in defense, civil protection and intelligence spending, with expenses of more than 1% of GDP (economic production) exempt from debt restrictions
• A Special Infrastructure Fund of € 500 billion (£ 420 billion) for additional investments for 10 years, including € 100 billion to cover climate protection initiatives
• The 16 States of Germany may borrow up to 0.35% of GDP above the debt limit.

Defense plans also allow spending to help for states “attacked in violation of international law” to be exempt from the so -called debt brake.

That would allow outgoing Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz launching 3 billion euros in help to Ukraine as soon as next week.

The last government of Germany collapsed at the end of 2024 due to disagreements on the loosening of debt restrictions brought by the government of Foreign Minister Angela Merkel during the financial crisis in 2009.

It meant that the Government could not borrow more than 0.35% of the gross economic production of Germany, while the rail infrastructure and bridge of the country creaked from the years of underestimation and the ministers tried to boost military spending.

The social democratic president, Lars Klingbeil, said that Friday’s agreement sent a “historical signal” for Germany that would strengthen the country and “strengthen Germany’s role in Europe too.”

Although the greens were in the old government, they will not be part of the Merz coalition. However, the party was delighted that the 100 billion euros insured for climate financing would go “in the right direction.”

The foreign minister of outgoing green, Annalena Baerbock, also cheered the defense package not only making Germany but sending “a clear signal to Ukraine, Europe and the world.”

Germany was assuming responsibility in turbulent times, he added.

The AFD co-leader, Alice Weidel, was less impressed and accused Merz to bend the Constitution and load future generations with a “gigantic burden.”

“This is nothing less than a financial blow,” he complained.