Addressing the Bundestag just now, presumed next chancellor Friedrich Merz told lawmakers that the proposed package of reforms was primarily motivated by "Putin's war of aggression against Europe".
"A war against Europe, and not just a war against the territorial integrity of Ukraine," he said.
"We will defend ourselves against these attacks on our open society, on our freedom … with everything at our disposal," he promised. Merz said that Germany had to "rebuild our defence capabilities, in part from scratch," naming his priorities in procurement, European satellite systems, drones, among others.
Speaking before him, the SDP's co-leader Lars Klingbeil said lawmakers were facing "a historic decision," that could "give our country's history a new direction, a positive beginning for Germany, a positive beginning for Europe." He said that Europe needs to acknowledge it finds itself between "aggressive" and "neo-imperial" Russia and "unpredictable" US, and "must now do our homework."
