"Bild": Defense budget will be increased significantly less than Pistorius is aiming for
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) have agreed on an increase of approximately 1.17 billion Euro in their discussions in the afternoon, reported the newspaper further. This is intended to supplement the already planned 52 billion Euro from the Federal Finance Ministry.
According to "Bild", Germany will still meet the two percent NATO target in the coming year, despite the lower increase in defense spending. This will be secured through the constitutionally anchored special budget for the Federal Armed Forces in the amount of 100 billion Euro.
As reported by "Bild", the procurement of weapons and ammunition, however, will be partly financed with funds that have not yet been provided for in the federal government's financial planning. The Federal Ministry of Defense has already ordered military equipment worth 10.8 billion Euro, which will only become due in 2028. By the end of the year, further contracts could therefore be signed for an additional 6 billion Euro.
CDU budget politician Ingo Gädechens criticized this approach in a conversation with "Bild". Defense Minister Pistorius wants "to continue working with uncovered checks" and "pass on all problems of the next government into my shoes", Gädechens reportedly said, adding: "That's irresponsible politics!"
A fundamental agreement on the entire federal budget for 2025 is expected to be reached between Chancellor Scholz and his deputies Habeck and Lindner by Friday. Negotiations, which may last into the night, will see Scholz expected at a meeting in the SPD fraction at 7:00 am on Friday morning. This was called by fraction leader Rolf Mützenich, so that the Chancellor can inform the MPs about the results of the budget negotiations before the parliamentary summer break.
- The increase in defense spending, amounting to approximately 1.17 billion Euro, was agreed upon by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and his deputies Robert Habeck (Greens) and Christian Lindner (FDP).
- Robert Habeck, from the SPD's coalition partner, the Greens, was involved in these discussions along with Christian Lindner, the Finance Minister from the FDP.
- According to the "Bild" newspaper, the increases in defense spending will help Germany meet its 2% NATO target next year, despite the lower increase.
- Boris Pistorius, the Defense Minister, has been ordered to procure military equipment worth 10.8 billion Euro, due in 2028, which will be partly funded with unprovided funds.
- Criticizing this approach, Ingo Gädechens, a CDU budget politician, told the "Bild" newspaper that Defense Minister Pistorius wants to "pass on all problems of the next government into my shoes," calling it "irresponsible politics."
- The Federal Ministry of Defense, led by Pistorius, has already signed contracts worth 6 billion Euro for additional military equipment by the end of this year.
- Olaf Scholz, Habeck, and Lindner are expected to reach a fundamental agreement on the entire federal budget for 2025 by Friday, with negotiations possibly extending into the night.
