Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany, responded to criticisms from the right and left regarding support for Ukraine in his speech to parliament, emphasizing that not a single euro has been cut from the social budget. He delivered this speech ahead of the EU summit in Brussels.
Emphasis on No Cuts to the Social Budget
Merz stated: "Not a euro has been taken from the social budget" and assured parliament members that support for Ukraine is being provided through additional loans. He referred to exemptions that allow Germany to utilize legal limits on defense borrowing and aid to Ukraine.
The Chancellor of Germany also criticized right-wing and left-wing parties, accusing them of trying to divide Germany. He specifically mentioned the right-wing party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) and the left-wing party "The Left" which recently won elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
New Coalition Agreement in Saxony-Anhalt
In Saxony-Anhalt, where AfD recently won elections, a new coalition has shown its strength. This coalition includes AfD and the "Social Justice and Economic Rationality" (BSW) party, based on which AfD has proposed to stop sending weapons to Ukraine and lift sanctions against Russia. Instead of these measures, they are calling for the initiation of peace negotiations with Russia.
The BSW party, which holds five seats in the state parliament, has collaborated again with AfD to secure a majority for this proposal. This party combines leftist economic policies with right-wing populist positions on immigration and relations with Russia.
The proposal from AfD and BSW holds only symbolic value as decisions regarding sanctions and aid to Ukraine are made by the federal government and the European Union. However, this new coalition is seen as a sign of closer and long-term cooperation between two parties coming from different ideological fronts.
Merz's Speech at the EU Summit
Merz is set to present Germany's priorities regarding Ukraine, European defense, and economic competition in a speech to parliament ahead of the EU summit in Brussels. This speech will take place at 14:05 local time (12:05 UTC), followed by a 90-minute discussion.
EU leaders will meet on Thursday and Friday at this summit, with topics such as the Middle East, the EU's long-term budget, and the expansion of the Union on the agenda. After Merz's speech, the Green Party is expected to present two proposals to expedite the expansion of the Union and strengthen actions to counter economic coercion and support the Union's market.
The increase in Germany's annual inflation rate to 3.3% in September, the highest level since December 2023, will also be discussed as another topic in this session. This increase has occurred due to rising energy prices.
