Greens, Germany and Friedrich Merz

Germany’s Merz implores Greens to approve spending revolution
BERLIN — Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting in a fiery Bundestag debate Thursday urged Green lawmakers to pass constitutional amendments that would unleash up to €1 trillion in new spending to bolster the country’s military and invest in its economy.
Germany’s Friedrich Merz offers concessions to Greens over ‘historic’ spending plan
Chancellor-to-be vows greater share of investments for green transition as outgoing Bundestag reconvenes to debate bills
Germany's Greens May Torpedo Merz's Spending Bonanza but Hint at Deal
BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's Greens vowed to block plans by likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz for a massive increase in state borrowing but left room for compromise on Monday on measures to revamp the military and revive growth in Europe's biggest economy.
Friedrich Merz, German chancellor before his time
Even though negotiations to form a coalition have not yet begun, the head of the Christian Democratic Union party, which came out on top in Germany's February 23 elections, has already embarked on major projects in his country and abroad.
Germany’s Greens make Merz sweat over massive spending plan
The Greens vow to foil the chancellor-in-waiting’s historic plan to invest big in defense and infrastructure. But it may just be a negotiating gambit.
Germany’s Friedrich Merz plans ‘double bazooka’ for defence and infrastructure
Such a plan would mark a step-change in Germany’s traditionally conservative approach to public borrowing. Berlin in 2009 enshrined a debt brake in its constitution, which limits government borrowing and keeps the structural deficit at 0.35 per cent of GDP.
Opinion
Germany’s Welcome New Defense Spending Plan
Berlin may have found a way to rearm despite balanced-budget restraints.
Germany’s conservatives, SPD woo Greens to push through spending plan
The parties hoping to form the next German government - the conservative bloc and Social Democrats (SPD) - are making significant efforts in winning over the Greens, whose votes they need to pass a multibillion-euro financial package.
German MPs to begin debating Merz's spending plans
Germany's likely next leader Friedrich Merz is set Thursday to defend his unprecedented plans to massively ramp up defence and infrastructure spending in parliament as lawmakers begin debating the proposals.
Germany's Friedrich Merz faces rocky road to lift debt brake rules
Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz wants to alter Germany's strict fiscal rules to massively boost defence spending, the ...
Germany Readies to Finally Lead Europe, If Merz Can Pull It Off
With Europe experiencing its most devastating war since 1945 and President Donald Trump ripping up the transatlantic alliance ...
PHOTO COLLECTION: Germany Politics
This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.
Germany Needs to Get Its Act Together. Under Him, It Won’t.
Having led his party, the Christian Democrats, to first place in Germany’s election last month, Mr. Merz swiftly assumed the ...
The German Bond Trade May Be a Slow Burn: Heard on the Street
Germany’s big-bang spending plans jolted markets, but there are reasons to be skeptical that the impact will be immediate.
Coalition talks begin in Germany: Rearming like the Nazis, anti-refugee agitation and social cuts
Coalition negotiations between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats to form a new federal government began Thursday.
German lawmakers debate loosening debt limits to spend more on defense as Europe’s worries grow
Germany’s likely next chancellor on Thursday urged outgoing members of parliament to exempt some defense spending from the nation’s tight self-imposed rules on running up debt.
Institute raises German growth forecast for 2026 in anticipation of spending boom
Germany's IfW economic institute raised its 2026 growth estimate for Europe's largest economy on Thursday, anticipating ...