Germany's conservative bloc, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Saturday announced their intention to enter formal coalition negotiations, following the conclusion of exploratory talks.
The talks, which lasted for over a week after the federal election on Feb 23, produced a paper outlining the basis for the two parties to form a coalition government.
CDU leader and likely the next Chancellor Friedrich Merz Saturday told a press conference that agreements had been reached in a number of key policy areas including migration, finance, and economic issues.
Regarding migration, the parties agreed on the possibility of rejecting asylum seekers at land borders, as well as strengthened border controls.
They also agreed to reform the social benefits system for the unemployed.
According to the announcements, the two parties would also focus on reducing energy costs to boost the country's economy.
Earlier this week, the CDU/CSU and the SPD announced an agreement on a 500 billion euro (542 billion U.S. dollars) package to provide infrastructure investments, as well as a plan to exempt defense spending from constitutionally enshrined debt brake.
In the German federal parliamentary election, the CDU/CSU took the lead in votes, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came in second, and the SPD ranked third.
Germany's CDU/CSU, SPD agree to begin coalition negotiations
Germany's CDU/CSU, SPD agree to begin coalition negotiations
Germany's CDU/CSU, SPD agree to begin coalition negotiations
The Japanese society should do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression and adhere to the pacifist constitution, said Shiradori Hiroshi, a professor of the Hosei University, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Tokyo on April 30.
He said the government's recent move to discuss revising the three security documents deserve particular attention as the country's foreign and security policies have already witnessed major changes.
"People outside of the country hold that Japan's post-war image as a 'peace state' is now facing a major shift. Against the backdrop of tremendous changes in its foreign and security policies, the revision of the three security documents deserves particular attention. There lacks public debate in terms of the procedure, with policy changes decided unilaterally at Cabinet meetings. It is necessary to fully explain to the public as to whether such a practice is proper," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government held its first expert panel meeting to discuss revisions to the three security documents at the Prime Minister's Office on April 27, local media reported.
Japan's current National Security Strategy and two related documents, formulated in 2022, were designed to cover the next 10 years, but the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decided to move up the timetable to accelerate the revision process.
Increasing defense spending is one of the key topics of the meeting, according to Kyodo News.
Hiroshi said this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, or Tokyo Trials, and the Japanese society must do soul-searching regarding its history of aggression in WWII, when it brought enormous catastrophes on Asian countries.
"Eighty years have passed since the opening of the Tokyo Trials. Japan inflicted enormous suffering on Asian countries during WWII, which should serve as an opportunity for the soul-searching. It is exact on the basis of countless sacrifices that Japan's post-war pacifism and its identity as a 'peace state' took shape. On this 80th anniversary, it is necessary for Japan to re-examine and do soul-searching regarding its history," said Hiroshi.
The Japanese government's effort to revise the pacifist constitution is widely opposed by the public.
On Sunday, around 50,000 people gathered at Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, chanting slogans and holding banners against the government's push for constitutional revision and military expansion, the largest turnout of its kind in recent years.
Japan should adhere to pacifist constitution: scholar
