On Friday, the Bundestag approved the amendment to the Basic Law for the Bundeswehr special fund with the necessary two-thirds majority. In a roll-call vote, 567 MPs voted in favor of this, there were 96 votes against and 20 abstentions. With an additional 100 billion euros, equipment deficits in the Bundeswehr are to be eliminated. With an additional 100 billion euros, equipment deficits in the Bundeswehr are to be eliminated.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the special fund in his “Zeitenwende” speech on February 27 as a reaction to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. “We are facing up to our historical responsibility,” said Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner before the vote for the project.
The amendment to the Basic Law stipulates that a new, debt-financed 100 billion euro fund for better equipment for the Bundeswehr does not fall under the debt brake. The fund itself will be set up by a simple law that the Bundestag wanted to vote on this afternoon.
According to the economic plan available so far, a large part of the special assets should go to the Air Force. This includes the procurement of the successor to the Tornado, the US fighter jet F-35, but also the development and purchase of the ECR Eurofighter and the procurement of heavy transport helicopters.
The 100 billion euros are in addition to the annual defense budget of around 50 billion euros. The resolutions still have to be confirmed by the Federal Council, which is expected.
Note: An earlier version stated that 683 voted for the change. In fact, it was 567 yes votes out of 683 votes cast. We corrected the mistake.
