Unpleasant hanging game for Scholz – vote on Bundeswehr era change canceled for now

Created: 05/17/2022, 05:47

By: Markus Hofstetter

In order to constitutionally secure the special fund for the Bundeswehr, the Basic Law must be amended.

Chancellor Scholz is confident, but the project has been delayed.

Berlin - The Ukraine conflict caused a rethink in German politics.

The Bundeswehr, which has been neglected for many years, is to be brought back into shape with a special fund worth billions.

This was announced by Olaf Scholz (SPD) in a government statement at the end of February.

It is all the more bitter for the chancellor that after the confusion surrounding compulsory vaccination, this project is now also faltering.

Actually, the negotiations about the special fund should have progressed so far that the Bundestag can deal with it this week.

But that was "off the table," said SPD leader Lars Klingbeil on Monday.

The talks with the Union were still ongoing.

They are "very constructive".

However, he could not give a date for an end.

He hopes "that there will be a result soon".

Scholz' Bundeswehr special fund: traffic light coalition depends on Union

Scholz's plan states that in future Germany will invest more than two percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in defense each year.

In addition, the Bundeswehr is to receive a special fund of 100 billion euros for investments and armament projects.

The aim is to equip the army, air force and navy to such an extent that they can be defended in an emergency.

In order for the special fund to be protected under constitutional law and used for a specific purpose, it should be enshrined in the Basic Law.

However, a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat is required for an amendment to the Basic Law.

Since the number of votes in the traffic light coalition in the Bundestag is not sufficient, the SPD, Greens and FDP are dependent on votes from the CDU and CSU.

In order to create the necessary majority in the Bundestag, the traffic light coalition and the Union are conducting negotiations.

But they proved difficult from the start.

For example, the Union sets conditions for its approval of the special fund.

CSU regional group head Alexander Dobrindt said that this would only exist if it was clearly regulated that the 100 billion euros would only benefit the armed forces.

In addition, the two percent target must be secured by law.

The Bundeswehr urgently needs investment to be prepared for emergencies.

But the special fund of 100 billion euros is a bone of contention between the traffic light coalition and the Union.

© Bernd Wüstneck/dpa

Traffic light coalition and Union not yet agree on special assets

The involuntary partners pass the buck to each other for the problems in the negotiations.

Union faction leader Friedrich Merz blamed the SPD, Greens and FDP for delays.

According to the AFP news agency in Berlin, he said it had been negotiated until Thursday evening last week.

It's expected to continue this week.

There are "rather on the side of the coalition difficulties".

According to his information, there is “an agreement between the CDU/CSU, SPD and FDP,” said Merz.

"But the Greens are not yet ready to make a decision."

SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, on the other hand, appealed to the "state political responsibility" of the CDU/CSU.

He said there were still a few questions on the table.

"It is all the more important that the Union also moves, refrains from fundamental demands." Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge warned Merz not to play party political games.

100 billion euros special fund for the Bundeswehr: deliberations in the Bundestag are delayed

Olaf Scholz now has another hanging game ahead of him.

On Saturday (May 14) he said he was confident of getting a parliamentary majority for the special fund.

"The special fund is a national task, it's about an effective defense of our country.

This requires an amendment to the Basic Law, for which I would like a patriotic majority, if I may put it a bit pathetically," said Scholz.

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