Sun 22nd Dec, 2024

The political landscape in Germany is preparing for the forthcoming Bundestag elections scheduled for February 2025, with major parties reaching a consensus on a Fairness Pact aimed at fostering a respectful and equitable electoral environment. The agreement has been established among key political entities including the SPD, CDU, CSU, Greens, FDP, and the Left Party.

This pact is particularly significant as it comes at a time when the election campaign is expected to be intense and competitive. The parties have collectively committed to refrain from personal attacks and derogatory remarks regarding the private or professional lives of their opponents. Respectful discourse is emphasized as a cornerstone of this electoral process.

Furthermore, the agreement explicitly denounces the spread of misinformation, commonly referred to as ‘fake news’. The parties have pledged to avoid utilizing any deliberately misleading information for campaign purposes, even if such information originates from third parties not directly affiliated with them. The commitment extends to the use of fake identities and accounts, ensuring that political messages will be clearly attributed either through identifiable party logos or specific accounts used for distribution.

In addition to maintaining integrity in their messaging, the parties have also assured mutual respect during on-the-ground campaign activities. This includes a commitment to refrain from any acts of violence against campaigners, including during the installation of campaign posters and the operation of campaign stalls. The agreement stipulates that the destruction or alteration of political opponents’ posters is strictly prohibited.

As the electoral campaign increasingly shifts towards digital platforms, the parties have recognized the importance of conducting a fair digital campaign as well. The use of advanced technologies such as deepfakes has been explicitly ruled out, with the parties agreeing not to misrepresent their opponents through manipulated media. Any content generated using artificial intelligence must be transparent and clearly labeled to avoid misleading the electorate.

This Fairness Pact represents a proactive approach by Germany’s political parties to ensure that the upcoming elections are conducted in an environment of mutual respect and integrity. By addressing potential issues such as misinformation and personal attacks, the agreement aims to create a more trustworthy and fair political discourse leading up to the elections.

The plans would make it easier for defence firms to receive advance payments from the state to start production sooner, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told journalists.

Contracts worth less than 443,000 euros will also be exempt from the full procurement process, up from a current limit of 15,000 euros, Pistorius said.

The threshold will rise to one million euros for construction projects, he added.

He said the proposed bill represented a “quantum leap” for Germany’s armed forces, unblocking progress on about 12,000 procurement processes.

The changes will address the “jumble of regulations” that hindered “quickly building up Germany’s defence readiness”, he added.

Presenting the bill alongside Pistorius, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said Germany needed to become “technologically and industrially stronger than potential aggressors”.

“That is how we preserve peace,” Reiche added.

Berlin has rushed to rearm itself following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accelerating that process after US President Donald Trump urged Europe to take more responsibility for its own defence.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to build Europe’s “strongest conventional army” to counter a perceived threat from Moscow.

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That represents a radical shift in a country with strong pacifist traditions due to its Nazi past.

READ ALSO: Military service ‘could be made mandatory’ says German Defence Minister

Spending on Germany’s armed forces is expected to reach 162 billion euros in 2029, more than triple Germany’s defence budget before the war in Ukraine.To become law, the cabinet’s draft bill still needs to be passed by Germany’s parliament.