Germany’s coalition government is moving quickly to implement significant reforms following last month’s agreement on debt rules. This change allows the new government to invest heavily in the military and improve the country’s aging infrastructure.
One of the key components of the coalition’s plan is to address irregular migration and enhance border controls, responding to concerns that many voters expressed during the February elections. However, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party criticized the measures, claiming they do not go far enough and accusing party leader Friedrich Merz of yielding to the Social Democrats.
A recent report from Germany’s armed forces commissioner revealed serious shortages in the military, including a lack of ammunition, personnel, and decent living conditions for soldiers. To combat this, the coalition has committed to increasing defense spending and strengthening the military. While there will be no return to conscription, Merz noted that they plan to adopt a voluntary military service model similar to Sweden’s, hoping to attract enough volunteers to expand the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces.
Merz also assured that Germany would provide comprehensive support to Ukraine amidst ongoing tensions in the region. While the new government will feature many fresh faces, continuity is expected in the defense ministry, where current Social Democrat Minister Boris Pistorius is likely to stay on.
This coalition marks the fifth "grand coalition" in Germany since World War II, uniting major parties from both the center-right and center-left. However, the leaders emphasized that this government would be different from past iterations. With Germany currently facing an economic recession, some critics, like left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht, argue that the coalition fails to address the economic crisis or the challenges posed by trade wars. She warned that the country might face further years of recession, coining the term "Merzession" to describe the situation.
Merz expressed confidence that the coalition deal would receive approval from the parties involved, allowing them to begin work by early May. Meanwhile, a recent Ipsos poll indicated that Merz’s conservative party holds 24% support, just behind the AfD, whose co-leader Alice Weidel celebrated this as a sign of significant political change on the horizon.