A senior official from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Mona Neubaur of the Green party, has called on the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, to engage in discussions with the states prior to potential votes in the Federal Council regarding a new “special fund” for the German military.
Neubaur stated in an interview with the Welt newspaper that it is always wise and sensible for a federal government to seek prior consultation with the states on federal council-related matters, particularly those that involve financial obligations for the states or issues related to internal and external security.
In the new Bundestag, the Moscow coalition of the AfD and the Left Party has a blocking minority, which is a relevant problem in the context of the necessary increase in our defense capabilities, according to Neubaur, who hopes that Merz, if he were to become Chancellor, would find the strength to adopt a style of governance that seeks to bring people together rather than drive them apart.
A spokesperson for the government of the state of Baden-Württemberg, led by Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann of the Green party, echoed Neubaur’s sentiments, stating that the Federal Council is not a partisan body, but rather represents the interests of the states and that the states should be involved in initiatives that affect them and that compromises should be sought that are acceptable to all parties.
Kretschmann is reportedly recommending that the state premiers be included in the coalition negotiations and that the perspective of the states be taken into account accordingly.