A special session of the German Bundestag is planned for March 10, according to a report by Bild-Zeitung. Friedrich Merz, the CDU’s candidate for chancellor, is expected to propose the issuance of new debt. The report cites a financing need of 400 billion euros for the German military and 500 billion euros for the country’s underdeveloped infrastructure. The proposed “special fund” could potentially amount to a new debt of 900 billion euros.
However, according to Bild-Zeitung, a fundamental change to the debt brake is not planned. This was reportedly confirmed by Merz in a conversation with the CDU’s executive board, where he also mentioned the special session of the Bundestag.
A press conference is scheduled for 1 pm.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD), a potential coalition partner of the CDU, has expressed disappointment over the leak of internal discussions on the debt proposal to the media. SPD leaders Saskia Esken and Lars Klingbeil have declined to comment on Merz’s proposal, stating that the publication was not coordinated with the SPD. Further information will be provided shortly.