SPECIAL ISSUE #72
HISTORY COULD BE WRITTEN TODAY
I don’t know how closely you followed the German elections on 23 February, but what unfolded afterward is nothing short of astonishing. The CDU, under chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, secured victory - but it was the German people who lost.
Within just 24 hours, Merz began dismantling his own campaign promises, reducing his party’s election manifesto to little more than a footnote in history. Since then, not a day has passed without fresh revelations about political deception.
Today, the old, voted-out Bundestag is set to vote on a staggering 500 billion euro debt package, rebranded as “special assets” rather than what it truly is - special debt. But as concerning as that is, there’s an even greater threat lurking beneath the surface.
A Constitutional Coup in Disguise?
In a move to secure the Green Party’s support, the CDU is reportedly willing to amend the Basic Law, enshrining Germany’s climate neutrality by 2045 into the Constitution.
At first glance, this may seem like a commitment to environmental responsibility. But in reality, it’s a highly strategic manoeuvre - one that has dangerous implications for democracy, free speech, and political opposition.
Why? Because once something is written into the Basic Law, it ceases to be a political issue open for discussion and becomes a constitutional mandate. And here’s the key point: If a government ties its policy to the Constitution, then anyone who opposes that policy is, by definition, opposing the Constitution itself.
This is not about whether climate action is necessary. This is about using climate policy as a tool to silence opposition - legally.
Silencing Dissent by Law
Once climate neutrality is constitutionally protected, any criticising it - whether from an economic, social, or scientific perspective - risks being labeled an “enemy of the Constitution.”
The consequences of this are chilling:
Political parties that challenge climate policies could be delegitimized or even banned. Opposition movements could be crushed, not through democratic debate, but through legal mechanisms designed to "protect the Constitution."
Media outlets and journalists could be censored under the justification that questioning the state’s climate strategy constitutes anti-constitutional speech.
Academics, researchers, and industry leaders who argue for alternative energy solutions or a different path to sustainability could face legal scrutiny.
Private citizens already facing lawsuits from politicians for social media posts could find themselves in even deeper legal trouble if their criticisms are deemed "anti-constitutional."
This is not speculation - it’s already happening. People are being sued by politicians for expressing critical opinions. This amendment would escalate that suppression to an entirely new level, giving politicians the legal framework to criminalise disagreement.
A Masterstroke of Political Engineering
What makes this move particularly insidious is that it doesn’t require banning opposition outright - it simply redefines opposition as unconstitutional.
By shifting climate neutrality from a political debate into a constitutional obligation, the government would gain an unstoppable weapon against its critics. Opposition parties would either have to fall in line or risk being labeled anti-democratic. And since Germany already has strict measures against so-called "anti-constitutional activity," this tactic could be used to dismantle any effective resistance from within the political system itself.
It’s a coup in disguise -not with tanks, not with force, but through the quiet rewriting of fundamental laws.
A Defining Moment
This vote isn’t just about a 500 billion euro debt package - it’s about the future of free political discourse in Germany. If this amendment passes, it will fundamentally change the rules of democracy.
Today, it’s climate neutrality. Tomorrow, it could be anything. If the government can turn policy into constitutional law to suppress opposition, where does it stop?
If history is written today, let it not be the day Germany legalised the silencing of dissent.
Tamja - this is really chilling and thanks for your briefing. It is really horrifying that Germans who criticize a key area of policy could be declared an "enemy of the Constitution". it is horrifying to see how Merz has changed and AfD has been sidelined along the way. Thanks for updating us and putting the situation into perspective. It is horrifying and you wonder what will happen next?