German parliament in race against time to sign off on new defence fund

<p>Friedrich Merz, expected to be next chancellor, has spoken of urgent need for ramped-up defence, but ‘blocking minority’ could form in future Bundestag</p><p>Germany’s outgoing parliament could be asked to sign off on a new defence fund in its final weeks as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/23/conservatives-poised-to-win-german-election-but-far-right-afd-doubles-support">the conservative winners of Sunday’s election</a> seek to balance geopolitical demands with the looming pressures of a new Bundestag hostile to military spending.</p><p>Since the victory of his CDU/CSU alliance, Friedrich Merz has spoken of the urgent need for Europe to ramp up its own defence capabilities, saying it needs “independence from the USA” amid an unpredictable Trump administration and a looming threat from Russia.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/25/german-parliament-in-race-against-time-to-sign-off-on-new-defence-fund">Continue reading...</a>