Olaf Scholz’s first appearance in parliament after the election shows one thing: the Chancellor’s speeches shouldn’t get any more exciting than before. But what is exciting is not what he talks about – it is what he does not address.
from
Nico Fried and Cerstin Gammelin, Berlin
Parliamentarism can be a complicated thing. At 9:40 am, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas gave Minister Olaf Scholz the floor “for the Federal Government,” as she says. And the manuscript, which Scholz then literally carries to the lectern behind Angela Merkel’s back, is also in a dark blue folder with the federal eagle embossed on it. But what the Vice Chancellor is about to read, he says, strictly speaking, on behalf of the coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP, which is to elect him as Chancellor. And that in turn, which he will not mention – a not unimportant detail – he may ignore because the Chancellor does not want to hear it on behalf of her executive government. Olaf Scholz is currently a man with two loyalties.