Friedrich Merz
Chancellor of Germany (from May 2025); leader of the CDU/CSU group in the Bundestag before that · CDU (Christian Democratic Union)
2 changes of mind on record, 2024–2025
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
- Loosening Germany's constitutional debt brake Keep the debt brakeLoosen it for defence Jan 2024Mar 2025
- Passing motions with votes from the AfD Never a majority via AfDVote even if AfD decides it Nov 2024Jan 2025
first said said otherwise
Loosening Germany's constitutional debt brake
Then
Keep the debt brake
His group will not vote to loosen the debt brake in the Basic Law.
“Und ich schließe eine Zustimmung meiner Fraktion zu einer Aufweichung der Schuldenbremse des Grundgesetzes heute, von dieser Stelle aus, erneut aus.”
Our translation And I once again rule out, today, from this place, my parliamentary group's consent to a loosening of the debt brake in the Basic Law.
Source Deutscher Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/150 (31 January 2024), budget debate
1 year, 1 month later
Later
Loosen it for defence
Defence spending above 1% of GDP is taken out of the debt brake, and a fund allows up to 500 billion euros of new debt for infrastructure.
“Nun sind, meine Damen und Herren, Verteidigungsausgaben, die oberhalb von 1 Prozent unseres Bruttoinlandsproduktes nicht mehr der Schuldenbremse unterliegen, und ein Sondervermögen, das in den nächsten zwölf Jahren bis zu 500 Milliarden Euro neue Schulden für zusätzliche Investitionen in unsere Infrastruktur erlaubt, trotzdem ein, ich sage es so, großer Wechsel auf unsere Zukunft, ein großer Wechsel auch auf die Zukunft der nachfolgenden Generationen.”
Our translation Now, ladies and gentlemen, defence spending above 1 percent of our gross domestic product that is no longer subject to the debt brake, and a special fund that allows up to 500 billion euros of new debt over the next twelve years for additional investment in our infrastructure, are nonetheless, as I would put it, a large bill drawn on our future, a large bill drawn also on the future of the following generations.
Context: After the federal election of 23 February 2025, the CDU/CSU and SPD used the outgoing Bundestag to pass the constitutional amendment with the Greens' votes; the Bundesrat approved it on 21 March 2025.
Passing motions with votes from the AfD
Then
Never a majority via AfD
He proposes that the Bundestag never once reach a majority, accidental or arranged, that depends on the AfD.
“sodass weder bei der Bestimmung der Tagesordnung noch bei den Abstimmungen in der Sache hier im Haus auch nur ein einziges Mal eine zufällige oder tatsächlich herbeigeführte Mehrheit mit denen da von der AfD zustande kommt.”
Our translation so that neither in setting the agenda nor in the votes on substance here in this House does even a single time an accidental or deliberately arranged majority come about with those people there from the AfD.
2 months later
Later
Vote even if AfD decides it
He brings his migration proposals to a vote even if they pass only with AfD votes: a right decision stays right whoever votes for it.
“Um es deutlich zu sagen: Eine richtige Entscheidung wird nicht dadurch falsch, dass die Falschen zustimmen. Sie bleibt richtig.”
Our translation To say it clearly: a right decision does not become wrong because the wrong people agree to it. It stays right.
Source Deutscher Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/209 (29 January 2025), debate on migration motions
Context: Later that day a CDU/CSU motion on migration passed with AfD votes; in the same session Merz said he sought no majorities other than those in the democratic centre and regretted that one had come about.
More of what they have said
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