1. Bundestag decides over 100 billion for the Bundeswehr


2. 100 days of war in Ukraine


3. Voting on future minimum wage


4. The month of truth for Europe's climate policy


5. The future of Meta after the Sandberg departure


6. How chaotic is that going to be Traveling at Pentecost?


7.

Will Zverev defeat French Open king Nadal?

Sebastian Reuter

Editor on duty.

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1. Bundestag decides over 100 billion for the Bundeswehr

With a two-thirds majority, the Bundestag is to change the Basic Law in favor of the special assets of the Bundeswehr.

Meanwhile, CDU leader Merz is reviving the debate about the return of conscription.

Shopping list

: In addition to the planned new basic law norm ("To strengthen alliance and defense capability, the federal government can set up a special fund with its own credit authorization of up to 100 billion euros (...)"), the Bundestag decides on the largest investment project in the history of the republic.

Among other things, the purchase of Eurofighters and F-35 combat aircraft as well as the purchase of at least one additional F126 frigate, anti-aircraft missiles for submarines and new armored personnel carriers are planned.

Unanswered questions

: SPD leader Lars Klingbeil is hoping for a broad majority in the Bundestag vote.

He pointed out that the Union had promised its approval and now wanted to do without "games" in which it would have been counted how many CDU and CSU MPs would be needed for a two-thirds majority.

On Thursday, politicians from the traffic light coalition and the Union in the Defense Committee had clarified open questions regarding the planned law.

CSU defense politician Florian Hahn told the FAZ that, among other things, the transfer of projects worth 15 billion euros from the defense budget to the "special fund" had to be discussed.

Conscription

: CDU leader Friedrich Merz has revived the debate about the return to conscription.

At an event hosted by WDR, Merz spoke of a "general obligation to serve with the possibility of course also serving in the Bundeswehr", but also with the THW, the Red Cross or aid organizations.

His impression is that the population is ready "to address this issue like never before".

The CDU wants to make a decision on this subject at its party conference in September.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) said the debate was a "discussion from the last century".

The SPD was also clearly opposed to conscription.

more on the subject

2. 100 days war in Ukraine

On February 24, Russia launched its attack on Ukraine.

More than three months later, nothing indicates that the conflict will end any time soon.

War of attrition

: In view of the worsening situation in the east of the country and the military successes of Russian troops, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg predicted another long war on Thursday.

The conflict has become a war of attrition in which both sides paid a high price on the battlefield, Stoltenberg said after a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House.

Previously, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had spoken again of around 100 Ukrainian soldiers being killed and several hundred injured every day.