German Liberty ‘At Risk’ Says Merz as He Cautions Against ‘Dictated Peace’ in Ukraine
Kicking off the discussion in the Bundestag, Chancellor Friedrich Merz outlined the critical issues this autumn, declaring that the nation confronts decisions “not about details, but about very fundamental issues” that will shape its future.
“It is essential to adopt a sober look at reality in order to choose the right path for our nation,” he said.
He stressed that “national liberty is under threat” with a increasing “feeling of vulnerability,” adding that the country’s economic model is also “strained” from “an emerging trend in protectionism.”
He also warned against “political forces at home and abroad” that question unity and weaken the nation’s democratic foundations.
On security, he began by noting that the Moscow’s aggression of Ukraine “has a very concrete impact on our lives,” and stressed: “It is our desire that this war to end.”
But he acknowledged that “there is reason to fear it will continue for a while longer.”
The chancellor emphasized that “ending it at the expense of Ukraine’s political sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable,” and alerted that “an imposed resolution” could “further motivate the Russian leader to seek his next target.”
He then censured recent Russian drone incursions into the Polish territory and the Romanian airspace.
“Putin has long been testing the limits,” he commented, but stressed:
We will not allow this.
‘We Want to Be Able to Defend Ourselves’, Merz Affirms
The leader reiterated his frequent stance on national security, asserting:
We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we do not have to defend ourselves.
But he also made a wider argument about the necessity of modernizing the nation, its civil protection plans, and the army.
He also talked about trade, including looking for new partners “in an increasingly complex world.”
He noted that “the distinction between internal and external affairs is simply outdated,” as the state’s initiatives abroad “serve to preserve freedom, stability and economic well-being at home.”
He also mentioned progress on his administration’s goal to reduce the number of asylum applications in response to growing migratory pressures.
