Germany increases Defense Spending

Germany’s parliament has passed a bill to loosen the country’s strict debt rule to enable higher defense spending. Lawmakers discussed the legislation on Tuesday to revise the Basic Law, equivalent to the country’s constitution. 

It was jointly submitted by the alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) that won last month’s general election, and the Social Democratic Party, a prospective coalition partner. The bill calls for an easing of rules in the Basic Law which stipulates a so-called “debt brake”. Germany’s prospective next chancellor of the CDU/CSU urged support for the bill.