Social organizations on rearmament: “Not at the expense of social policy”

Social organizations take a critical view of the increase in arms spending planned in Germany. This should not be at the expense of the social. One party in particular must now make concessions.

Social organizations are demanding that the planned billion-euro armament of the Bundeswehr does not come at the expense of social measures. One urgently appeals to the federal government on the matter, said VdK President Verena Bentele of the “Rheinische Post”. “Other sources of finance must be found for this.”

The general manager of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, Ulrich Schneider, said something similar: “Under no circumstances should the considerable increase in the defense budget that is now planned be bought at the expense of the necessary social infrastructure and the support of those in need in this country,” he told the newspaper.

Schneider: FDP has to make concessions

In view of the large number of costly projects in the coalition agreement, the question already arises as to how all this can be implemented without tax increases. “The FDP must now also make concessions and move away from the taboo on any tax increases,” demanded Schneider.

Bentele criticized that savings had been made “for the weakest in society” for many years. “This must come to an end under a social-democratic government, as promised.”

Special assets of 100 billion euros

In view of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Germany wants to massively upgrade the Bundeswehr. It is to receive 100 billion euros for investments and armaments projects via a special fund, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Sunday. The money will be provided with the 2022 federal budget.

At the same time, he promised that “from now on, year after year, Germany will invest more than two percent of its gross domestic product in our defense.” This has not been the case since the end of the Cold War.