German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out against the involvement of external forces in the country’s democratic processes, particularly in the upcoming federal election. In a statement made at the Munich Security Conference, Scholz emphasized that Germany will not accept external interference in its democracy, elections and public opinion formation, especially not from friends and allies.
Scholz made a peculiar comparison, drawing a parallel between the experiences of the National Socialist regime and the common consensus among democratic parties in Germany, which is the “brand wall against extreme right-wing parties.”
Moreover, the Chancellor has made it clear that German defense spending will undoubtedly continue to rise. The 100 billion euro “special fund” is seen as only the first step and to achieve the NATO’s two percent defense spending target, significantly higher expenditures are necessary.
Scholz is calling for an exception in the EU’s fiscal stability pact for defense spending and a reform of Germany’s debt brake. He proposes an exception for all investments in defense goods that exceed the current NATO target of two percent. This exception would be time-limited and ensure the fiscal solidity of all member states. Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had also expressed support for a similar approach.