Merz calls for support from the economy: Companies should release employees for the Bundeswehr
Merz calls for support from the economy: Companies should release employees for the Bundeswehr
At this year's Industry Day of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Chancellor Friedrich Merz sent a clear signal to strengthen Germany's defence readiness – and in doing so directly called on the business community to
take responsibility.In his speech, Merz emphasized that not only politics and the armed forces, but also German companies must play a central role in securing democracy and freedom. Specifically, he demanded:
Companies should regularly release their employees for military exercises to support the establishment of an active and operational reserve.
Companies should regularly release their employees for military exercises to support the establishment of an active and operational reserve.
"Hopefully, we agree: this democracy and freedom are worth defending. But this also has a very concrete impact on your companies," Merz told industry representatives. The main problem of the Bundeswehr at the moment is not a lack of money, but the lack of qualified personnel.
Merz also hinted that a return to conscription could be necessary. The previous voluntariness alone will probably not be enough to bring the personnel strength of the Bundeswehr to a necessary level.
He appealed to entrepreneurs:
"Your employees are part of this society. Enable them to practice regularly with the troops – this is the only way we can remain capable of defending ourselves together. The Bundeswehr must return to the center of our society."
In retrospect, the suspension of conscription was a mistake, Merz explained. An increase in the number of troops would not be possible without the participation of the business community.
"It will not work without your willingness to give your employees one to two weeks a year to serve in the armed forces," said the Federal Chancellor. If a common understanding is found here, this could be a turning point for the country.
Business signals approval – security as an economic factor
Merz received support even before his speech from BDI President Peter Leibinger, who emphasized that the German economy is ready to take responsibility:
"Resilience and defense capability are a fundamental interest of the economy."
The BDI published a policy paper on security policy in which concrete measures are proposed. The industry sees itself as a reliable partner of the state and is ready to make its contribution.
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Guest Comment on Merz's speech: Those who preach freedom must not feign duty
A chancellor who did not come into office through the trust of the people, but through party-political power calculations, is now calling on business and citizens to actively participate in the defense of the country. Of all people, those political forces who used to refuse military service, who have dismantled the Bundeswehr for years, discredited it and pushed it into the political sidelines, are suddenly discovering their enthusiasm for uniform and a sense of duty – not for themselves, however, but for others.
Now that their geopolitical mistakes and ideological alliances are increasingly entangling Germany in international conflicts, young people are to serve as reserves, conscripts or volunteers – preferably organized by the economy. What disguises itself as a "duty to freedom" is de facto an attempt to build an army for a policy that has never had to defend itself – neither physically nor morally.
Those who refuse to take responsibility for their own political misdirection must not call others to duty.
And trust in a state that promises freedom while at the same time censoring opinions, defaming protest and dismantling civil rights is already at an all-time low. The young people who are now being recruited as "defenders of democracy" are rightly asking themselves:
Which democracy actually? And whose interests should we really defend?
Which democracy actually? And whose interests should we really defend?
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Author: Redaktion
Sources: Reuters, TZ
Image source: FT-Presse
