National Freedom ‘Under Threat’ States the Chancellor as He Warns Against ‘Dictated Peace’ in Ukraine
Opening the discussion in the Bundestag, Leader the head of government set out the stakes this autumn, stating that the nation faces decisions “not about details, but about very fundamental issues” that will define its future.
“We must take a sober look at reality in order to select the correct path for our nation,” he said.
He stressed that “our freedom is under threat” with a growing “sense of insecurity,” adding that the country’s financial system is also “strained” from “an emerging trend in protectionism.”
Additionally, he cautioned against “political forces at home and abroad” that question unity and undermine the nation’s democratic foundations.
On defense matters, he started by noting that the Russian invasion of Ukraine “has a very concrete impact on our lives,” and stressed: “We want this war to end.”
But he conceded that “there is reason to fear it will continue for some time.”
The chancellor emphasized that “ending it at the expense of the nation’s independence and territorial integrity is unacceptable,” and alerted that “an imposed resolution” could “further motivate Putin to seek his subsequent goal.”
He then censured recent Russian drone incursions into Poland and the Romanian airspace.
“Putin has long been testing the limits,” he commented, but made clear:
We will not allow this.
‘We Want to Be Able to Defend Ourselves’, Merz Says
Merz 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.
But he also made a wider argument about the necessity of updating the nation, its emergency preparedness systems, and the military.
He also addressed economic relations, including seeking new partners “amid growing global challenges.”
He said that “the separation between internal and external affairs is simply outdated,” as the government’s actions abroad “help maintain freedom, peace and economic well-being at home.”
He also mentioned progress on his government’s mission to reduce the number of refugee requests in response to growing migratory pressures.
