German Liberty ‘Under Threat’ Says the Chancellor as He Warns Against ‘Dictated Peace’ in Ukraine
Kicking off the debate in the Bundestag, Leader Friedrich Merz set out the critical issues this fall, stating that Germany confronts choices “concerning core principles rather than minor aspects” that will shape its future.
“We must take a sober look at reality in order to choose the right path for our nation,” he remarked.
He emphasized that “national liberty is under threat” with a growing “sense of insecurity,” adding that Germany’s economic model is also “under pressure” from “an emerging trend in protectionism.”
Additionally, he cautioned against “factions at home and abroad” that question unity and undermine German democracy.
On security, he began 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 “there is reason to fear it will continue for a while longer.”
The chancellor emphasized that “ending it at the expense of the nation’s independence and borders is unacceptable,” and warned that “a dictated peace” could “only encourage the Russian leader 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:
This will not be tolerated this.
‘We Want to Be Able to Defend Ourselves’, Merz Affirms
The leader reiterated his frequent stance on national security, stating:
Our aim is to be able to defend ourselves so that we do not have to defend ourselves.
Additionally, he highlighted a wider argument about the necessity of modernizing the nation, its civil protection plans, and the military.
He also talked about trade, including seeking new partners “in an increasingly complex world.”
He said that “the distinction between internal and external affairs is simply obsolete,” as the state’s initiatives abroad “serve to preserve freedom, stability and prosperity at home.”
He also mentioned progress on his administration’s goal to lower the number of asylum applications in response to growing migratory pressures.