German Parliament's Upper House Grants Final Approval to Major Defense and Borrowing Package

Germany's upper house, the Bundesrat, approved a bill that enables increased military spending and infrastructure investment, passing with a two-thirds majority. The legislation establishes a €500 billion special fund for infrastructure and raises military expenditure, exempting it from Germany's debt regulations. Chancellor-in-Waiting Friedrich Merz is striving to secure the package's approval before the next parliament session, concerned about potential opposition from the Left and AfD parties. Hubert Aiwanger, leader of the Free Voters, expressed reservations but emphasized that advocating for the sensible use of these funds is preferable to inaction.