German Liberty ‘Under Threat’ Says Merz as He Warns Against ‘Dictated Peace’ in the Eastern European Nation
Opening the debate in the Bundestag, Leader Friedrich Merz set out the stakes this fall, declaring that Germany faces choices “not about details, but about very fundamental issues” that will define its destiny.
“We must take a clear-eyed look at reality in order to select the correct path for our country,” he said.
He stressed that “national liberty is endangered” with a growing “feeling of vulnerability,” adding that Germany’s economic model is also “strained” from “a new form of protectionism.”
Additionally, he cautioned against “factions at home and abroad” that question social cohesion and undermine German democracy.
On security, he started by saying that the Moscow’s aggression of Ukraine “has a very concrete impact on our lives,” and asserted: “It is our desire that this war to end.”
But he conceded that “there is reason to fear it will continue for some time.”
The chancellor emphasized that “concluding the conflict at the expense of the nation’s independence and territorial integrity is unacceptable,” and alerted that “a dictated peace” could “further motivate Putin to seek his next target.”
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:
This will not be tolerated this.
‘National Defense Readiness Is Essential’, Merz Affirms
The leader repeated his frequent stance 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 wider argument about the importance of updating the nation, its emergency preparedness systems, and the military.
He also talked about trade, including looking for new partners “amid growing global challenges.”
He noted that “the distinction between domestic and foreign policy is simply obsolete,” as the state’s initiatives abroad “help maintain liberty, peace and prosperity at home.”
He also referenced advancements on his government’s mission to reduce the number of asylum applications in response to growing migratory pressures.
