Habeck Urges Political Unity to Counter Extremism and Strengthen Defense

The Green Party candidate calls for collaborative governance and proposes a significant increase in defense spending to ensure stability and security.

Robert Habeck, the Green Party's candidate for chancellor, warns against political polarization and urges Germany's centrist parties to prioritize coalition-building after the February Bundestag election.
He cites Austria's political gridlock and the resulting far-right coalition as a cautionary example, emphasizing the need for compromise to avoid empowering radical forces.
Habeck proposes increasing Germany's defense budget to 3.5% of GDP, nearly doubling current spending, to bolster national and European security against threats from authoritarian regimes like Russia and China.
The Green Party's new campaign promotes Habeck as a 'coalition chancellor,' aiming to position the party as a unifying force capable of bridging ideological divides.
Critics question whether Habeck's focus on defense and foreign policy is a strategic pivot to overshadow his economic record, which includes challenges during his tenure as economy minister.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung