Agriculture Minister Özdemir visits the Bundeswehr – Politics

Cem Özdemir looks determined, the Federal Minister of Agriculture wears a camouflage uniform and is now a lieutenant in the reserve. Short term. The Greens politician took four days off before Easter to take part in a military exercise. He also wants to show thanks and respect to the troops in times of crisis. But the whole thing quickly becomes political.

The malice from the Left Party is to be expected. “It’s always nice to see that a minister is fully committed to his department. Have fun lying around in the field,” blasphemed parliamentary group leader Jan Korte via Twitter. Former Linke boss Bernd Riexinger says that Cem Özdemir in uniform is “embarrassing sleaze, propaganda.” Then comes a daring leap for the representative of a pro-Russian party: “At the same time, many people are dying in Ukraine, in real uniforms, with real weapons and are buried in real coffins.”

Others also accuse Özdemir of self-portrayal. Because he informs himself in words and pictures about the days with the troops.

The deputy CDU general secretary Christina Stumpp says: “Instead of putting himself in the limelight for PR purposes with our troops, he should rather do an internship with our farmers.” He could learn a lot there, especially how to make good agricultural policy. Her party colleague Serap Güler defends Özdemir and complains that the real problem is that “it seems that no member of the cabinet has had the idea of ​​showing this interest and thus this recognition for the troops, whether with or without self-portrayal.”

The Federal Minister of Finance promptly reports from the off. Christian Lindner can’t resist a point against Güler, but above all against his cabinet colleague Özdemir: “The colleague can calm down. I did a Bundeswehr exercise last year. Just because something isn’t in the media doesn’t mean that it’s not taking place.”

Finally, the Federal Minister of Education jumps in, also from the FDP. “I did a military exercise in my first legislative period in the Bundestag – because we make important decisions as members of parliament,” emphasizes Bettina Stark-Watzinger. It was a week full of insights, marked by respect for the performance of the Bundeswehr. In addition, today’s minister tweeted a picture of herself in uniform and with camouflage paint on her face.

This is what the pre-Easter debate situation looks like in politics. And Cem Özdemir himself? He’s also done military exercises like this when he was a member of parliament, but not yet as a minister. For many years, the Bundeswehr has been offering politicians a look, also to strengthen the bond and understanding between the parliamentary army and the politicians who make the decisions.

“When I was in the Bundeswehr for the first time, there was a real little shitstorm,” he says Süddeutsche Zeitung. Now it’s manageable, the usual voices from the far left and from the far right are always there. He was with the military police in Hanover, then there was proper weapons training at the Bergen training ground. With the P8 and the G36 assault rifle. “I think I could handle it,” says Özdemir when asked about his hit rate. “But thank God I don’t have to do that as a civilian.”

Incidentally, he didn’t serve, but for a special reason: “I didn’t refuse, I wasn’t even registered because I only became a German citizen when I was 18.”

The Greens once wanted to abolish the Bundeswehr, but today they are among the biggest advocates of comprehensive arms deliveries to Ukraine. From Özdemir’s point of view, Russia’s attack on the country shows that liberal democracy must be able to defend itself. It just doesn’t defend itself. Armies like the Bundeswehr are needed for that – and the interest and support of the civilian population.

source site