Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic This article was originally published in German
The CDU/CSU and SPD are proposing to create a special fund of 500 billion euros for infrastructure and defence by reforming the country’s “debt brake” provision. In order to benefit from the majority of the old Bundestag, things will now move quickly.
ADVERTISEMENTShortly after the elections and during the transitional period of forming a new government, Germany is forced to clarify its own position on defence.The likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, proposed a reform of the debt brake this week in order to create 500 billion euros in special funds for infrastructure and defence.”In view of the threats to our freedom and peace on our continent, whatever it takes must now also apply to our defence,” said Merz.In addition to exploratory talks, agreements on the defence budget must now also be reached in the Bundestag.Scandal in the Oval Office leads to EU defence plansSince the confrontation between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week, defence has become a more urgent priority than ever in Germany, Europe and worldwide.Donald Trump temporarily put military aid for Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression on hold and announced that he would soon initiate negotiations with Russia.German defence budget for the EUThe SPD and the CDU/CSU had already agreed in advance of Thursday’s special EU summit in Brussels to increase defence spending. A special fund of 100 billion euros is planned for the Bundeswehr. It is intended to provide a range of new equipment, including air defence, cyber defence and various weapons, ammunition and drones.In an interview with ARD-Hauptstadtstudio, Johann Wadephul, deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, held out the prospect of three billion euros from Germany to support Ukraine within the EU.For the current Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, it is important that defence remains a national responsibility and that defence spending is financed from the budgets of the member states. Before the start of the talks, he said that it was important to ensure that Ukraine did not have to accept a dictated peace and that the country must remain an independent and democratic nation.Amendment to the law to be agreed with the old BundestagIn order to create the special fund of several hundred billion with a reform of the debt brake, several amendments to the German Basic Law are necessary. A fundamental reform of the “debt brake” provisions makes it possible to fundamentally determine investments in infrastructure and is therefore a long-term solution.A special fund alone would only provide temporary financial resources. The CDU plans to exempt defence spending above one percent of GDP from the debt brake.The SPD, CDU/CSU and Greens still have a two-thirds majority in the current Bundestag. They need this to amend the constitution – including the debt brake. In the new Bundestag, however, the AfD and the Left Party would have a blocking minority.Politically, the – presumably – new federal government therefore wants to make use of old majorities. The law is therefore expected to be passed through parliament by the middle to end of March.Although the amendment of the law after the election by the old Bundestag has been criticised, it is constitutionally correct, as the old Bundestag still has a quorum until the new government is constituted.If the Bundestag passes the special fund, the Bundesrat would then also have to approve it with a two-thirds majority. If the Bundesrat subsequently rejects the special fund, the legislative process ends for good. The special fund could therefore no longer be implemented.ADVERTISEMENTGermans are in favour of more defence spendingAccording to a Forsa survey commissioned by RTL and ntv, 71% of Germans believe that a massive increase in defence spending is the right thing to do. 24 per cent are against it. The highest levels of approval are among supporters of the CDU/CSU, SPD and Greens.Katharina Dröge, Chairwoman of the Green Party parliamentary group in the Bundestag, regretted in a statement that the CDU is only now beginning to act. “It remains to be seen whether we will ultimately agree to these amendments to the Basic Law.” She criticised: “The CDU/CSU and the SPD are perforating the debt brake a bit like a Swiss cheese, which raises the question of whether it would not ultimately be more orderly, more transparent and wiser to tackle a fundamental reform of the debt brake.”55 per cent of respondents also say that Merz has deceived his voters. For the CDU leader, the agreement on the financial packages is a change of course. During the parliamentary election campaign, he had still ruled out a quick reform of the debt brake.In addition, he had always spoken of a spending problem and emphasised that savings in the budget were necessary before new debts could be incurred.ADVERTISEMENTCriticism from the Left and rejection from the AfDThe Left Party fears rearmament in Europe. The CDU and SPD’s approach is “completely hasty and democratically highly questionable” and also involves an “unprecedented financial dimension”, the party said in a joint statement.In a statement to Euronews, the party reiterated that the current financial resources would be sufficient for the time being. “It should therefore be about a reorganisation of the Bundeswehr, not more money for armament”.Left-wing voters, however, are divided. 49 per cent are in favour of the CDU plan, 41 per cent are against it. Only among AfD voters is rejection greater than approval.”The AfD will not agree to this. Germany does not have a revenue problem, but a spending problem. The funds needed for the military and infrastructure would be available in the budget if the money were spent wisely,” said Bernd Baumann, parliamentary leader of the AfD, in a statement to Euronews.ADVERTISEMENT
