Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s CDU, is making a bold move to sidestep the newly elected parliament and push through a massive defense investment—one that could see Germany borrowing up to €900 billion.
With the new parliament unable to convene until the end of March, Merz wants to push legislation through the outgoing one, which still holds the numbers he needs for approval. He argues that the urgency of bolstering Germany’s military justifies fast-tracking the decision, especially after Donald Trump’s recent remarks about European NATO allies needing to shoulder more of their defense costs.
The pressure is on. European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, fear the U.S. is pulling back its support, leaving Europe vulnerable. Germany, which only last year hit NATO’s 2% defense spending target, faces mounting calls to invest more.
Merz, the likely next chancellor, wants to ramp up military spending even further. Though he hasn’t named specific figures, economists estimate that €400 billion could go toward defense upgrades, with another €500 billion needed for infrastructure—totaling a staggering 20% of Germany’s GDP.
This level of spending would trigger a major increase in government borrowing, but Merz is undeterred. He’s working to strike a deal with the SPD and Greens, despite their usual political rivalry, aiming for an agreement before Thursday’s European leaders’ summit.
SPD’s Matthias Miersch acknowledges the need for investment but insists infrastructure must also be prioritized, not just military expansion. Talks of an emergency parliamentary session next week could pave the way for Merz’s plan to pass with SPD and Green support.
But not everyone’s on board. The AfD and Die Linke, controlling over a third of seats in the new parliament, oppose the spending increase, meaning Merz lacks the two-thirds majority he’d need once the new assembly takes over. That’s why he’s racing against time, relying on the outgoing parliament to get his proposal through.
Critics argue this move undermines democracy, echoing Merz’s past dismissals of voter sentiment on issues like migration. Meanwhile, public frustration over a potential CDU-SPD coalition is growing. Polls show rising support for the AfD and Die Linke, while the CDU, SPD, and Greens continue to lose ground.
Germany may be on the verge of massive defense expansion, but the real battle isn’t just about military spending—it’s about who truly represents the will of the people.
