German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz was set to make a last-ditch attempt on Friday to convince the Greens of his plans for a massive increase in state borrowing to bolster defence and infrastructure ahead of a parliamentary vote next week.

The apparent deal with the Greens paves the way for up to €1 trillion in new spending for defense and infrastructure.

Friedrich Merz and his prospective coalition partner the SPD’s plan to boost infrastructure spending and soften the debt brake treatment of defence spending