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.
Why would this only last 4 years? It’s a constitution change. It does not magically undo itself after a certain time.
The budget, I mean.
In four years, I suspect nearly all money will be allocated and either the next government manages to make another constitutional amendment or they will lack founding again.
500 billion is not a lot for 30 years of infrastructure decay.
Yes but the next budget can then be done by a simple 51% majority which is the regular coalition. This dept brake change needed a 2/3 vote and lays the foundation for easier budgets in the future.
Are you sure? From everything I read, there is only a 500 billion credit for infrastructure and an exception for defense spending above 1%.
If the 500 billion credit is largely spent and/or designated by 2029, the next government may not be able to pass a budget without a lot of cuts. Especially because retirement spending will explode by then, taking away money from everything else.
You are right, the off-budget fund (Sondervermögen) for infrastructure also needed a 2/3 vote. I was under the impression that the 500 billion credit and how it will be spend was just part of the negotiations for the dept brake reform. My bad.
The Greens had a strong position in the negotiations. To me it seems they got a good deal.
If they are clever they invest in factories in the east, to hurt the afd electorate
I wonder why the BBC author seems to have explicitly chosen only images with what appears to be female Bundeswehr soldiers? Kinda odd choice 🤔
My money is on subconscious fear of German women. Maybe they grew up on Allo Allo!
I only see 2 pics in the Article. Would you also wonder why only Men were showed if there were only 2 pics of Men?
If it was an article about an organisation that is 95% or so female then yes 🤷
Yea you are correct that it was probally done on purpose but Its also probally the least important part to point out from the article haha thats why I kinda wonderd about your Comment :)
Any move that strengthens the defense of Europe is a good move, I say.
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!
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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.
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