The focus: Can you buy money?
The focus: Can you buy money?
on the future of defense: a conversation about challenges and possibilities
24.03.2025 - 17:26
MDR Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk
Leipzig (ots) - In times when the focus is increasingly in the foreground on security and defense, the citizens are faced with decisive questions. On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 8:15 p.m., it will be a discussion round on the subject of "billions for the military. And now?" Give, moderated by Friederike Schicht and Andreas F. Rook. The debate, which is transferred from Dresden, deals with the profound questions about military upgrading in Germany and beyond.
The discussion is characterized by a current quote from the CDU politician Friedrich Merz, who, with his statement "whatever it costs", opened the way for an unchecked increase in defense spending. This raises the crucial question of whether financial resources alone are sufficient to solve existing problems in the defense system. While some politicians, including the left, see these increases as a dangerous step towards militarization and potential willingness to war, there is broad approval among the population on the additional expenditure for defense.
The official position of the party Die Linke, which speaks of a "blank check for the upgrade", reflects a deeper concern about the social and political implications of the upgrade. These different perspectives on the topic illustrate the split public opinion and the challenges that German society faces.
A particularly critical topic is the uncertainty about the intended use of the planned billions. Should the money to the Bundeswehr flow for national defense or is it used to build a European army that is currently still in the planning phase? This ignorance could further undermine the trust of the population in political decisions.
Among the guests of the discussion round are important personalities such as Dietmar Bartsch from the Left, who will present his perspective as a member of the Bundestag and a member of the Defense Committee, as well as Jens Lehmann (CDU) and political scientist Carolyn Moser from the Max Planck Institute Heidelberg. Your common knowledge and assessments will offer a comprehensive framework to illuminate the importance of these topics and to stimulate an informed public debate.
If you look at the feedback on the controversial question of reintroduction of conscription, it can be seen that interest in this measure is significantly lower. This could indicate that the population prefers a differentiated approach in defense policy that goes beyond blind military measures
Ultimately, this discussion will not only shape the future of German defense policy, but may also influence the trust of citizens in the political institutions. The voices of the citizens are decisive in this debate, and the MDR format "Fact is!" is served as a platform to hear these voices and to promote understanding of these complex topics. Switch on and take part in this important discussion.
Press contact:
MDR-Landesfunkhaus Sachsen, Peggy Ender, press and public relations, phone: 0351/8463515, email: peggy.ender@mdr.de
Original content from: MDR Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, transmitted by News Aktuell