Don't mention the war: in Germany, politicians are hiding the truth about defence spending | Paul Taylor

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

47% : By failing to prepare public opinion for the coming storm, Merz is storing up trouble for himself when the time comes, very soon, to make wrenching choices on public spending and borrowing.
46% : He has hinted that he is open to reforming the constitutional "debt brake" that severely limits government deficits to create more fiscal space for defence investment, and perhaps even to joint borrowing with European partners to fund common defence equipment.
34% : The conservative frontrunner has blasted Scholz for his lack of leadership in the EU and has vowed to restore Germany's damaged relations with France and Poland, work more closely with the UK and take a lead in Europe's response to the war in Ukraine.
31% : If Trump starts pulling US troops out of Europe, the bill will rise even higher.
25% : "In the worst-case scenario, if Trump pulls off this deal with Putin and carves up Europe into spheres of influence, Germany is very exposed.
23% : Neither of the main contenders to run Europe's largest economy dares tell the domestic electorate just how dire Germany's security situation is looking, now that Donald Trump is pursuing a quick deal with Vladimir Putin - apparently largely on Moscow's terms - to stop the fighting in Ukraine and draw down US forces from Europe.

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