BERLIN — In a passionate debate held in the Bundestag on Thursday, Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s conservative bloc, called on Green lawmakers to support significant constitutional amendments aimed at unlocking up to €1 trillion in new expenditures. These funds are intended to enhance the nation’s military capabilities and stimulate economic growth.
“In view of the security situation in Europe, which is now truly worrying in every respect … these proposed amendments to the constitution can no longer be postponed,” stated Merz, who heads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian counterpart, the Christian Social Union (CSU). His appeal comes as the CDU/CSU, having won the February 23 election, and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) gear up to establish a new government following the collapse of the previous coalition in November 2024 due to fiscal disagreements.
Urgent need for support from the Greens
To pass the trio of constitutional amendments, Merz requires a two-thirds majority in parliament. With the new Bundestag set to convene on March 25, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the leftist party The Left, which are opposed to increasing military spending, are expected to impede progress on the amendments. Consequently, Merz’s urgent priority is to secure support from the Greens during the upcoming days.
For the Greens, the ongoing negotiations with the CDU/CSU and the SPD represent their last opportunity to obtain policy concessions prior to potentially entering the opposition. To gain their favor, Merz promised that the proposed increase in defense expenditure would not only cover military costs but also extend to intelligence services and civil protection initiatives—areas the Greens had previously advocated for. Additionally, he assured that €50 billion from the proposed €500 billion infrastructure fund would be allocated to climate-related policies.
Internal tensions within the Greens
Despite these assurances, the Greens’ parliamentary group leader, Katharina Dröge, expressed skepticism. “I will negotiate until the end for climate protection to play an appropriate role in this country,” Dröge asserted during the debate. “But that does not mean climate protection in name only. And it doesn’t mean playing tricks,” she cautioned, alluding to concerns that the allocated €50 billion for green investments might be diverted from existing funds without releasing new resources for climate initiatives.
With a vote anticipated on Tuesday, followed by Bundesrat approval the following Friday, there is mounting pressure for the three parliamentary factions to reach an agreement this week. While significant hurdles are not expected in the Bundesrat, which represents Germany’s 16 states, a failure in the Bundestag would jeopardize the entire spending initiative.
“What more do you actually want in such a short time span than what we have suggested to you in the talks over the last few days?”
In a moment of desperation, Merz implored the Greens, emphasizing the urgency of their cooperation. He further remarked, “Do you seriously believe that the American government at the NATO summit in The Hague at the end of June will agree to continue doing everything the same way in NATO if Germany — together with the European NATO partners — are not prepared to take a new path?”
His remarks echo the pressure exerted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has urged European NATO allies to increase their defense spending. Trump’s recent comments, suggesting he might not protect NATO members failing to meet spending commitments, have added to the urgency for Germany to enhance its military investments.
The Greens have indicated a willingness to support the constitutional amendment for defense spending, albeit with a preference to defer discussions on infrastructure investments until the next parliamentary assembly. In contrast, Merz’s conservatives and the SPD oppose separating the package and favor a comprehensive financial strategy, which they believe will provide stability for the incoming coalition. Their aim is to finalize coalition agreements by Easter.