683 members voted in favor, 96 voted against and 20 abstained when the German Bundestag on Friday afternoon took a position on a constitutional amendment that paves the way for a defense effort worth SEK 1,000 billion. This means that the proposal has the majority required (two thirds) for the special initiative to be given the go-ahead.
The Left Party Die Linke sharply criticized the decision. Member Jan Korte began the debate in the Bundestag by stating that the money that goes to the defense can not go to other necessary investments, such as in healthcare.
– I would like to remind you how much 100 billion euros is, he said.
The investment in the defense was launched by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a speech already historic, three days after Russia’s attack on Ukraine in late February. The proposal was neither rooted in Scholz’s Social Democratic Party nor in his government. According to information in several German media, not even all ministers knew the details of the proposal until Olaf Scholz spoke openly about them.
When the Bundestag now approves the investment, it means that Germany is making a 180-degree turn in defense policy. In addition to the special initiative, the country plans to reach the military alliance NATO’s goal of investing two percent of GDP in defense – which it has not done since 1992. The investment means that the German defense budget will be one of the world’s largest.
During the months that Germany has been accused of not doing enough to help Ukraine, and of sponsoring the war by continuing to import Russian gas. Earlier this week, Olaf Scholz dampened the criticism by promising to deliver anti-aircraft robots and radar systems which, according to the Chancellor, are “the most modern system that Germany has”.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, Andrij Melnyk, describes the message as a breakthrough.
– Finally we can say “Thank you, Chancellor” from the bottom of our hearts, he says to the German newspaper Economic week.
Facts. 410 billion will be invested in the German Air Force
The German Bundestag has voted in favor of a special investment of the equivalent of SEK 1,000 billion in defense. According to a proposal quoted by several German media, around 410 billion will be invested in the German Air Force. 190 billion will be invested in the navy and 207 billion has been allocated to the category “Defense Command” – which includes the purchase of equipment for radio and satellite communications, according to the proposal. 5 billion will be invested in research, development and artificial intelligence.
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