Opening the debate in the Bundestag, Leader the head of government outlined the stakes this autumn, stating that the nation faces choices “not about details, but about very fundamental issues” that will shape its destiny.
“It is essential to adopt a clear-eyed look at the current situation in order to select the correct path for our country,” he remarked.
He emphasized that “national liberty is under threat” with a increasing “feeling of vulnerability,” adding that the country’s financial system is also “under pressure” from “a new form of protectionism.”
Additionally, he cautioned against “political forces at home and abroad” that question social cohesion and undermine the nation’s democratic foundations.
On defense matters, he started by noting that the Russian invasion of Ukraine “directly affects on our lives,” and asserted: “We want this war to end.”
But he conceded that “it is likely it will continue for a while longer.”
Merz stressed that “concluding the conflict at the expense of the nation’s political sovereignty and borders is unacceptable,” and alerted that “a dictated peace” could “further motivate Putin to seek his subsequent goal.”
He then censured recent Russian drone incursions into the Polish territory and the Romanian airspace.
“The Kremlin has repeatedly testing the limits,” he said, but stressed:
We will not allow this.
‘We Want to Be Able to Defend Ourselves’, Merz Says
Merz repeated his regular line on defense, asserting:
Our aim is to be able to defend ourselves so that we do not have to defend ourselves.
But he also made a broader point about the importance of modernizing the nation, its civil protection plans, and the army.
He also addressed economic relations, including seeking new partners “amid growing global challenges.”
He noted that “the separation between internal and external affairs is simply obsolete,” as the state’s initiatives abroad “help maintain liberty, stability and economic well-being at home.”
He also referenced advancements on his administration’s goal to reduce the number of asylum applications in response to growing migratory pressures.