Germany votes for historic boost to defence and infrastructure spending
The move alters the German constitution, allowing the country to increase its military spending.
If they are clever they invest in factories in the east, to hurt the afd electorate
Still needs a 2/3 majority in the Bundesrat (the "Senate" of germany). The votes should be there, but it is not 100% a given, because of some state governments with mixed opinions. They will vote on it in a session on friday. Let's hope for the best!
And Merz and Scholz got their 2/3 majorities via concession of 100 B for environmental measures for the Greens.
DW called it humorously, " a Defence Package with a Green Stamp".
It is not „for the greens“ it is for Germany. The environment does not have any political interest.
DW : " Despite a huge setback in Germany's federal election, the Green Party has secured a victory to the tune of billions of euros. The future governing coalition needed the Greens to realize a key political goal.
So win win?
For 4 years.
The next government will be beholden to the debt brake again - and if the CDU happens to be in the opposition, they will block any and all investment to make the governing parties look worse.
Although I expect the AfD to form a blocking minority for constitutional amendments anyway. Maybe we'll get the first CDU + AfD government by 2029 - wouldn't be the first time that German conservatives allow nazis to rise to power.
The Greens had a strong position in the negotiations. To me it seems they got a good deal.
Any move that strengthens the defense of Europe is a good move, I say.
I wonder why the BBC author seems to have explicitly chosen only images with what appears to be female Bundeswehr soldiers? Kinda odd choice 🤔
As a German I can say that this picture makes no sense. Merkel was one of the most left-wing Chancellor of all time. Merkel's coalition has paused compulsory military service and cut the Bundeswehr to the bone. During her time, the Bundeswehr received only 37 billion a year in some cases, although the German economic institutes have calculated that the Bundeswehr needs around 2% of GDP to maintain the status quo. 37 billion is less than 1%.
The image is overblown comparison but she wasn't that far left. She cut a lot of government spending and focused hard on fiscal responsibility with the debt brake. She's pretty much the reason why trains are not on time in Germany.
She also had to moderate the CDU/CSU position to form a coalition with SPD so there's no way to know if she would have done things differently with a CDU/CSU majority government.
But yeah, the picture implying nazi stuff is pretty far from her policies of pro immigration, inclusive economic growth and generally holding up democratic values.
