Germany's Merz pledges €100 billion for climate protection in deal with Greens

Friedrich Merz, a candidate for chancellor of Germany from the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), has pledged 100 billion euros for climate protection to the Greens political party, as the Union and SPD need their approval for the 500-billion-euro debt package for infrastructure. 

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Merz explains why the Union and SPD are suddenly allocating so much additional money for climate protection, Caliber.Az reports.

"The Greens wanted to make it clear, which I also support, that a significant portion of the special fund must also be used for climate protection," Merz noted.

According to Merz, the money is intended for the Climate Transformation Fund (KTF), which has existed for 15 years. However, the Greens no longer have a say in which climate projects the billions will be directed to.

Decisions on measures will be made by the new government. Merz said: "This fund will finance various tasks that serve the modernization of our country on the path to climate neutrality. The new government will decide on specific measures." And: The amount of the "special fund" will not be increased for the Climate and Transformation Fund.

It is clear that to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in the (old) Bundestag, Schwarz-Rot needs the votes of the Greens.

There was strong criticism of Merz on Saturday from FDP parliamentary leader Christian Dürr (47): "After Friedrich Merz already abandoned his convictions in the exploratory talks with the Social Democrats, now there’s even a complete capitulation to the Greens."

He added that the cancellation of the necessary economic transition and the preference for covering up the reform backlog with gigantic debts was already disappointing enough. "If now even the ideological climate policy is to be enshrined in the Basic Law, Friedrich Merz is falling even further behind the status quo."

Experts also fear "disastrous consequences" from the agreement between Schwarz-Rot and the Greens. They particularly criticize the inclusion of the goal of "climate neutrality" by 2045 in the Basic Law.

To recall, Friedrich Merz took a significant step toward forming a government after successful exploratory talks with the SPD on March 8. The talks aim to revive Germany’s economy and strengthen its military with a bold spending plan. The new government, expected by mid-April, will focus on limiting immigration, increasing defence funding, and addressing economic stagnation.

Merz's government plans to invest hundreds of billions in defence and infrastructure, disregarding Germany's debt restrictions, with a proposed 500-billion-euro fund. The ambitious proposals will require broad political support, including cooperation from the Greens, and aim to combat recession and enhance Germany's role in Europe’s security amidst shifting US policies.

By Khagan Isayev