Germany’s Merz urges Greens to approve spending overhaul

Merz Seeks Green Party Support to Pass Constitutional Amendments

To pass a package of three constitutional amendments, Friedrich Merz must secure a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag. However, opposition from the far-right, pro-Kremlin Alternative for Germany (AfD) and The Left — which opposes increased military spending — could block the initiative when the newly elected parliament convenes on March 25. This leaves Merz reliant on securing the Greens’ backing in the coming days.

For the Greens, ongoing negotiations with the CDU/CSU and SPD offer a final opportunity to secure policy concessions before transitioning into opposition.

In a bid to gain Green Party support, Merz committed to expanding defense spending to cover intelligence services and civil protection— a demand the Greens had advocated for during talks. Additionally, he promised to allocate €50 billion from the proposed €500 billion infrastructure fund towards climate policies. He also assured that debt limits above 1 percent of GDP would be lifted.

Despite these promises, Greens parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge remained doubtful. “I will negotiate until the end for climate protection to play an appropriate role in this country,” she stated during Thursday’s debate. She warned that climate investment must not be symbolic or rely on financial maneuvering, expressing concerns that the allocated €50 billion could be taken from previous budget provisions instead of providing new funds for climate initiatives.

With a vote expected on Tuesday and Bundesrat approval scheduled for next Friday, pressure is mounting for an agreement among the three parliamentary groups. While the Bundesrat, representing Germany’s 16 regions, is unlikely to pose major obstacles, failure to secure Bundestag approval would derail the entire spending package.

Acknowledging the urgency, Merz made a direct appeal to the Greens, asking: “What more do you actually want in such a short time span than what we have suggested to you in the talks over the last few days?”