‘Germany is back’: Merz secures Greens’ support for defence spend boost

Backing of Greens is tantamount to approval of chancellor-in-waiting's proposal to relax debt brake

Germany's conservative chancellor-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, has said he has secured the support of the Green party for his radical plan to increase spending on defence and infrastructure after marathon talks that went through the night, paving the way for its approval in parliament.

Germany is back," Merz said in Berlin on Friday. Germany is making its large contribution to the defence of freedom and peace in Europe."