"Got a feeling" about the German Bundestag's move, says Merz
Parliament's former chamber: Merz discerns no constitutional concerns
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The multi-billion euro strategies of the Union and SPD call for a two-thirds majority to alter the Basic Law. They're on the hunt for that majority in the old Bundestag, while securing it in the new one appears daunting. The initial grumbles against the process have already been lodged, but CDU leader Merz is confident these complaints will fall on deaf ears at the Federal Constitutional Court.
CDU stalwart Friedrich Merz finds it hard to imagine the judges at the Federal Constitutional Court squashing the 20th German Bundestag's authority over the Union and SPD's billion-euro financial plan. "I've got a feeling that the judges at the Federal Constitutional Court won't pull rank on this 20th German Bundestag," Merz declared on Thursday night during the ZDF-"heute journal."
The CDU has sought the advice of legal eagles to validate the process. "The old Bundestag, the 20th German Bundestag, remains empowered to make decisions, and we wouldn't have ventured into this risky maneuver if we didn't firmly believe we could pull it off this way," Merz added.
The CDU front-runner also exudes positivity about garnering the Greens' approval for the financial package, despite the sharp words from the Green parliamentary group during Thursday's parliament session. "I'm placing my money on us nailing this down by next week," Merz declared. Union and SPD have submitted further amendment proposals and plan to hold talks with the Greens.
Politics Financial packages in the assembly Is the old Bundestag still game? Union and SPD propose loosening the debt brake enshrined in the Basic Law for defense and the federal states, setting up a 500 billion euro special fund for investments in infrastructure. Only in the old Bundestag can they still secure a two-thirds majority with the Greens for the required changes to the Basic Law.
After the first skirmish on Thursday, the second and third readings, and thus the final vote, are planned for next Tuesday—provided the Federal Constitutional Court remains mum on the matter. The AfD and Left Party have lodged complaints against the calling of the old Bundestag in Karlsruhe. They complain that this procedure infringes on the rights of parliamentary members.
- Friedrich Merz
- German Bundestag
- Special fund
- Basic Law
- CDU
- CSU
- SPD
- Debt brake
- Green Party
- CDU leader Friedrich Merz is optimistic that the Federal Constitutional Court will not challenge the authority of the 20th German Bundestag in regards to the Union and SPD's billion-euro financial plan.
- The CDU, in collaboration with legal experts, maintains that the 20th German Bundestag still holds the power to make decisions, and they are confident in their approach to this risky maneuver.
- The proposed special fund for infrastructure investments, worth 500 billion euros, requires a two-thirds majority in the old Bundestag, particularly with the participation of the Greens, to make the necessary changes to the Basic Law.
