In the wake of the Ukraine war, the Bundestag debates the government’s budget. Chancellor Olaf Scholz will speak after CDU leader Friedrich Merz (CDU).
- In the first general debate since the 2021 federal elections, the Federal Chancellor will present himself Olaf Scholz* (SPD*) Parliament’s questions.
- The pressing issues in the general debate are Ukraine conflict* and the corona-Pandemic.
- Makes the start Friedrich Merz* (CDU*), Chairman of the CDU and leader of the opposition in the Bundestag.
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+++ 09.20 a.m.: Chancellor Olaf Scholz will speak next. First he addressed his word to Ukraine at war, praised Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and explained the traffic light strategy. And once again he makes it clear: there will be no intervention by NATO: “NATO will not become a party to the war.” That is a matter of common sense.
With regard to sanctions, Scholz emphasizes that a sanction should not cause more damage in your own country than in Germany Russia*. Efforts are being made in the energy sector to quickly eliminate dependence on Putin’s gas and oil. Scholz also thanks Interior Minister Nacy Feaser for tackling the refugee issue so well. The refugees are “welcome”.
General debate: Merz railed against “feminist foreign policy” and wants 100 billion “only” for the Bundeswehr
+++ 09.16 a.m.: Opposition leader Friedrich Merz starts the general debate with an attack on the traffic light government and complains: In the plenary session the day before, no one had spoken of the 2 percent of gross domestic product as a NATO contribution. The topic is the 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr. Specifically, he first attacks the FDP in the form of Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Chairwoman of the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag), who caught his eye with an interjection: “Ms. Strack-Zimmermann, you are obliged to exercise a certain amount of restraint.”
Merz initially sets specific conditions on which he makes the Union’s approval of an amendment to the Basic Law dependent:
– 2 percent GDP would have to be guaranteed beyond the 100 billion
– The expenditure may only be used “and for nothing else” for the Bundeswehr – and not for “feminist foreign policy”
– 2 percent of GDP would have to be permanently guaranteed for NATO
– The Union wants to know what exactly the money is spent on – no “100 billion blank check” will be issued
– The procurement system of the Bundeswehr in Koblenz must be changed
– Merz expects a repayment plan for the special fund, since exceeding the debt ceiling is not constitutional
“We are not the majority procurers” – opposition leader Friedrich Merz delivers a declaration of war on the government. Blank checks would not be distributed, nor would you be the “substitute player on the substitutes’ bench”.
General debate in the Bundestag: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s budget under scrutiny
Berlin – The policy of the traffic light government is being put to the test in the Bundestag today, Wednesday. In the general debate, the budget of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will be discussed in the context of the budget deliberations. The general debate is the highlight of the four-day first consultation on the 2022 federal budget.
Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner* (FDP) already submitted its plans to parliament on Tuesday (03/22/2022). He promoted his budget, which was characterized by many “uncertainties”. In view of the Ukraine conflict and the ongoing corona pandemic, Germany’s economic development is difficult to assess. Accordingly, “an appropriate response from government fiscal policy” is all the more important. The aim of the federal government is to strengthen growth and at the same time to counteract the risks of inflation.
General debate in the context of the Ukraine war
The general debate is scheduled to last four hours, with the debate on the Chancellor’s budget traditionally having the character of a general debate on government policy. As head of the largest opposition faction, the CDU politician Friedrich Merz will open the debate. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) speaks after him. All other parliamentary group leaders also want to take the floor.
The budget of the chancellor’s office envisages spending of 3.7 billion euros this year, which is a decrease of 14.3 percent compared to the previous year. The individual budgets for the Federal Foreign Office (1 p.m.), the Ministry of Defense (2.45 p.m.) and the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (4.30 p.m.) will also be discussed on Wednesday. (ktho/afp)
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