German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader and the country's prospective next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, claimed on Tuesday that the government needs to vote on the debt brake reform to allow for a large spending package because Russian President Vladimir Putin's "war of aggression" is "not just a war against the territorial integrity of Ukraine," but also a "war against Europe."
Merz addressed the German Bundestag ahead of the vote and warned lawmakers about the "hostile and disruptive" activities against Germany and "attempts to divide and marginalize the European Union." He noted that his country has to rebuild its defense capabilities "in part from scratch," pointing to the importance of procuring European satellite systems and drones, among other things, and adding that the contracts "should go to European manufacturers, whenever possible."
The CDU leader also stated that Germany could create a path for "a new European defense community" that could involve the United Kingdom and Norway.
