Berlin – The Greens have demanded talks with CDU leader Friedrich Merz on new financial leeway for the federal government. “Who wants to govern the country must be ready to work together on an equal footing with the democratic factions – even with those he has defamed before the election” said the Greens’ chairman Felix Banaszak to the Spiegel on Tuesday.
One might be able to govern the Union with a “Basta” approach, but the Federal Republic of Germany cannot, the Greens’ chief added. “It is up to Merz to finally take responsibility and start discussing constructive proposals for the urgently needed reform of the debt brake” the Greens’ leader said.
While there have been occasional contacts, there are no official talks between the Union and the Greens. According to reports, the Union’s faction leader Merz is considering two special funds outside the regular budget: one for defense and Ukraine aid and another for infrastructure, such as for the rail network. The Greens are currently focusing on a reform of the debt brake.
The parliamentary state secretary in the economics ministry, Michael Kellner (Greens), made it clear on Tuesday that a special fund for the federal armed forces alone would not be sufficient from the Greens’ perspective. “The climate crisis is not waiting for Putin to be stopped” the Greens’ politician said to the news magazine. “That’s why it’s so important to invest in both European security and climate protection, as well as functioning infrastructure.” For a long-term planning security, a reform of the debt brake is necessary, encompassing both, the politician added, money for European security and the necessary investments in climate protection.
Not much time remains for negotiations if the composition of the old Bundestag is still to be agreed upon. The Federal Election Committee is expected to announce the official results of the 2025 federal election in a public session in the Bundestag on March 14, 2025. The newly elected Bundestag will convene for the first time on March 25. There, the AfD and the Left party will have a combined minority in decisions requiring a two-thirds majority, a situation that would apply to a reform of the debt brake or a special fund anchored in the constitution.