“Our freedom is threatened – and very specifically, not abstractly.” With these words the Chancellor Friedrich Mertz He defended his policy from the Bundestag step, indirectly responding to the criticism of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Alice Weidel that it deals more with international issues than with its problems Germany. The Chancellor, however, also prepared citizens for “inevitable extensive reforms” on “fundamental issues” for “inevitable extensive reforms”.

“There can no longer be a separation between domestic and foreign policy. They are interconnected (…) Freedom is the basis of our lives (…) We have a responsibility to maintain our freedom and to ensure our prosperity, “Mr Mertz stressed while speaking in the budget debate and noted that” we saw how specific it can be. ” Vladimir Putin, he added, “has long tried the boundaries, sabotages, spying, killing, trying to cause insecurity.” The war in Ukraine “comes from Russia only,” the Chancellor stressed and again excluded a necessary peace, arguing that “a capitulation would encourage Putin to seek his next goal.”

In this context, Germany must enhance its defensive potential. “We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we do not have to defend ourselves,” the Chancellor said and referred to the need for Europe – including Germany – to take on more NATO responsibility. “Initially” with a voluntary military service, which we need to see how it will become more attractive, he said, and also referred to pressure on Germany’s economic model, “with protectionism policies and high energy prices”.

Friedrich Mertz prepared citizens at the same time for wide changes. “The decisions we have ahead of us are not about details, but very fundamental issues and are inevitable. This is nothing more and nothing less than the future of our country – how we live, how we live together, how we work, how our economy works, and whether our values ​​will continue to withstand, “he said and re -spoken” Autumn of Reforms ” generations. ” He assured, however, that “the older generation must be able to safely enjoy its retirement with financial security for the work it has offered” and on the other that “young people should not be burdened in an unfair way simply because they are a minority”, but they still have to say that ” The core of the welfare state will be maintained if there is economic growth, as this connection is inextricable. “

“The autumn of reforms will not be the last season in which we will change the country for the better. There will be a winter, a spring and another autumn reform, “Mr Mertz added and asked citizens of patience and faith. “We just started. Much is still discussed in the parliamentary arena, but we have begun (…) the government is working with a great deal of concentration, “he assured.

The Chancellor has also defended his government’s government policy so far, arguing that the “correction” of the march in immigration policy has already been felt. “The recovery we have promised has already begun successfully,” he said, referring to 60% less asylum applications last August compared to the corresponding month of 2024.

Criticism by AfD

Previously, AfD leader Alice Videl had strongly criticized the Chancellor of excessively involved in foreign policy at the expense of internal issues facing the country, while accusing him of “sabotaging US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war”. Ms Weidel also criticized the fact that Mr Mertz did not refer to the murder of Charlie Kerk in the US or the “escalation of far -right violence” and inside Germany, referring to the recent incident of sabotage in Pylon.