2025-06-11 15:31
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2025-06-11 15:31
Several prominent politicians of the SPD co -managed in Germany expressed opposition to government plans to increase defense expenditure. Instead, they propose a gradual resumption of dialogue with Russia.
The content of the manifesto read the weekly “Stern”, which on Wednesday informed about the document entitled “Ensuring peace in Europe through defense abilities, arms control and understanding”.
The manifesto was supported by some prominent party politicians. Norbert Walter-Borjans (SPD leader in 2019-2021), Hans Eichel (finance minister in 1999-2005) or the recent head of the SPD Rolf Metzenich (2019-2025) parliamentary faction listed among the signatories. According to the information of “Sterna”, there are over 100 signatures under the manifesto, in addition to the Bundestag MPs, also representatives of the parliaments of the trade union countries.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) criticized on Wednesday a manifesto of some social democratic politicians, in which they were called to a gradual resumption of dialogue with Russia and limiting expenditure on reinforcement. He told negotiations with the Kremlin “only from the position of strength”.
Pistorius assessed in an interview with the DPA agency that the manifesto is a “denial of reality” and “abuse the desire” of the Germans to end the war in Ukraine.
At the same time, he reminded that Russian leader Vladimir Putin until now ignored Kiev's offer regarding the unconditional suspension of weapons and instead “bombards cities in Ukraine with even greater brutality.”
The SPD politician was in favor of negotiations with Vladimir Putin “only from the position of strength”, clearly assessing that Russia does not strive for peace. “It is Putin who implements a confrontational strategy. Not us” – he noted. He recalled the figure of Willy Brandt, a social democratic chancellor of 1969-74, whose government “spent on defense, in relation to GDP, much more than it is allocated at present”.
“Stern” informs that the signatories of the document call for “making an extremely difficult attempt to resume dialogue with Russia after suspension of weapons”, and also to “intensify diplomatic efforts by all European countries”. They do not mention that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has not yet shown any serious interest in the permanent suspension of war.
They want to return to relationships and cooperation with Moscow
Signed under the letter postulate “a gradual return to alleviating relationships and cooperation with Russia.”
At the same time, the document reads that “support for Ukraine in the field of international law must be related to the legitimate interests of everyone in Europe in the field of security and stability.”
Signatories criticize NATO plans for increasing defense expenditure, 5 % target GDP considering “irrational”. “Rhetoric of military growth and mass arms programs do not create much security for Germany and Europe, but rather lead to destabilization and strengthening of mutual perception of themselves as a threat by NATO and Russia” – quotes the document “Stern”.
In a manifesto He is also called to suspend the distribution of new American medium -range missiles in Germany.
The manifesto is an expression of opposition to the leadership of the SPD Berlin and representing the Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius representing this party. At the end of June, social democrats are planning a party conference at which they will discuss their political program. In the February elections to the Bundestag SPD she obtained 16.4 percent disappointing for herself. votes, losing not only to the CDU/CSU Union but also an alternative to Germany (AFD).
The document has already met with intra -party criticism. Social democratic MP Sebastian Fiedler stated in an interview with NTV television that the initiative of his colleagues caused his “irritation, concern and anger.” He excluded any cooperation with Putin, whom he called the “war criminal”.
According to the words of Pistorius Bundeswehr, it must be “ready for war” by 2029. The German parliament adopted a law in March by CDU/CSU and SPD reforming the “debt brake” recorded in the Basic Act (German constitution), prohibiting the increase in the budget deficit above 0.35 percent. GDP. The introduced changes provide that expenditure on the army, civil defense, services and cybersecurity exceeding 1 percent. GDP will not be subject to budget restrictions, and it will be possible to take loans to finance them. (PAP)
MOBR/ MAL/
