The “Alternative for Germany” (“AfD”) party has called on the President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, to cancel two scheduled special sessions that were meant to discuss a large-scale spending plan for investments in infrastructure and defense.
According to the DPA news agency, the party sent a letter arguing that Bas is obligated to convene the new parliament, whose inaugural session will not take place until a few days later.
If the demand is not met by Monday, “AfD” and some individual MPs plan to file an urgent request with the Constitutional Court to prevent the sessions from taking place.
Following the February 23 elections, in which the conservatives won, the old Bundestag continues to operate until the first session of the new parliament on March 25. Meanwhile, the CDU and CSU are negotiating with the SPD about forming a coalition and preparing a multi-billion-euro plan for investments in infrastructure and defense.
The plan includes the creation of a 500 billion euro fund and a relaxation of the debt brake for defense spending. Changes to Germany’s constitution require a two-thirds majority, which is made more difficult by the success of “AfD” and “The Left.” Despite this, the CDU/CSU and SPD hope to push the plan through the old parliament with the support of the Greens, who are still part of Olaf Scholz’s government.
