Special assets for troops only
Lindner sees no contradiction to Union
04/27/2022, 11:08 p.m
With the planned 100 billion euros in special debts for the Bundeswehr, the traffic light government is dependent on the approval of the Union. Among other things, she fears that the money will not only flow into the equipment of the troops. But that’s exactly how it’s planned, assures Federal Minister of Finance Lindner.
Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner has assured that the planned special fund for the Bundeswehr is to be used exclusively for its equipment. “We also have a networked security policy, we also take care of crisis prevention. Above all, however, this must be financed from the current budgets, not from this special asset of the Bundeswehr,” said the FDP politician to the ARD “Tagesthemen”.
The special fund is to amount to 100 billion euros. The introduction is to be ensured via an amendment to the Basic Law. The traffic light coalition also needs the Union for the necessary two-thirds majority. This wants to prevent the money from being used for other security policy tasks besides the troops. She also demands a plan on how to implement the goal agreed years ago in NATO of increasing defense spending to two percent of gross domestic product.
Union faction leader Friedrich Merz had emphasized in the ZDF “heute Journal” that the Union faction did not want to refuse the money to the Bundeswehr. “But we want to do it in such a way that it is exactly as the Chancellor said in his government statement on February 27. 100 billion special assets for the Bundeswehr, that’s possible. But then please also permanently more than two percent of gross domestic product our country for defense.” This is currently not reflected in the proposals of the Federal Government.
Lindner said he has shared this concern for many years and has already raised the defense budget outside of the special fund, Lindner said. He is sure that the talks with the Union on achieving the two percent target will come to a good result. “We are in a historic phase. I think the current decisions are comparable to the NATO double-track decision at the beginning of the 80s. And here everyone has to be aware of their political responsibility. With Friedrich Merz I am sure that he is. “
The NATO double-track decision of 1979 envisaged negotiations with the Soviet Union on the dismantling of the SS-20 nuclear missiles aimed at Western Europe – and in the event of failure, that the USA would also station medium-range nuclear missiles (Pershing II) in Europe from 1983. In western Europe, and especially western Germany, the fear of nuclear war sparked widespread protests.