The multibillion-euro package loosens borrowing limits and allows new investments in defense, infrastructure and climate. The plan was backed by the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, center-left SPD and Greens.

BERLIN -- Germany's Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, on Tuesday approved a major constitutional amendment to loosen the country's strict "debt brake" policy, paving the way for increased spending on defense, infrastructure, and climate neutrality.

The lower house of the German Parliament voted Tuesday to bankroll a massive militarization plan as a backstop against Russian aggression. Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz pushed his fellow lawmakers to approve multiple amendments to the constitution that allow the government to side-step a “debt brake” clause that puts limits on its borrowing.