At 1 p.m., Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will answer questions from MPs for the first time this year. Above all, the Union wants to hear answers to one question from the Chancellor: Why he is saying no to the delivery of Tauruscruise missiles to Ukraine. In the past few weeks, Scholz has explained several times why he does not want to deliver these to Kiev – but he has not yet commented on this in the Bundestag.
Olaf Scholz initially praises the new democracy relief package, which is intended to reduce bureaucracy. The Chancellor also highlights the recently submitted proposal for a pension package. The point is to show that the retirement age is not constantly being raised – and to show that people can rely on what they pay in. Later, the Chancellor said about the pension package when asked by SPD MP Tanja Machalet: Anyone who leaves school at 17 has five decades of work ahead of them. There must therefore be clarity: the discussion about a constant extension/expansion of the retirement age is counterproductive because trust is lost.
Scholz then emphasized what Germany has done so far to support Ukraine. The amount Germany has launched in terms of arms deliveries and military support amounts to a total of 28 billion euros. “This is more than anyone else in Europe has made possible,” said the Chancellor. “This support is still necessary.” But, says Scholz, referring to his no to a delivery of Tauruscruise missiles to Ukraine: “Prudence is not something that can be qualified as weakness, as some do – but prudence is what the citizens of this country are entitled to.” This also includes not supplying weapons that can only be used sensibly if German soldiers are involved. “I think it is necessary that we ensure that there is no involvement of German soldiers when delivering weapons.” The Chancellor is repeating his previous position.
Ukraine requested the missiles with a range of more than 500 kilometers from Germany in May 2023. Scholz rejects this because he fears that it could drag Germany into the war. On Thursday, Parliament will vote again on the delivery at the Union’s request. However, there will almost certainly not be a majority in favor of it.
Wadephul from the CSU, a member of the defense committee, asks the first question. There is great confusion in Germany and among the allies about what the Chancellor’s decision, Taurus not to deliver is decisive. Scholz himself is responsible for this confusion. Scholz’s attitude that German soldiers should be able to operate the Taurus monitor is a declaration of no confidence in Ukraine. “What actually makes you so distrustful of this army, which has so far kept all agreements,” he finally asks.
When Scholz answered the question, a murmur could be heard in the plenary session. “Mr. Colleague, the citizens are afraid of you,” says the Chancellor. Citizens would be concerned when they hear that “responsible politicians are trying to evaluate issues that have to do with war and peace using psychological categories.” Scholz continued: “It is something that citizens worry about when prudence and consideration are described as hesitation and cowardice or something else.” It’s about guaranteeing the security of the Federal Republic of Germany. “And I swore an oath to that, Mr. Colleague,” concludes Scholz. Germany trusts Ukraine, which is why Germany is by far the largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine.
Before the government questioning, Union faction deputy Jens Spahn accused the Chancellor of being too timid in supporting Ukraine in its defensive fight against Russia. “The problem with Olaf Scholz is that you can smell the sweat of fear,” said the CDU politician on Wednesday on the RTL/ntv program ” Frühstart “. “Putin senses that a fearful, despondent man is leading the largest nation in Europe.”
If you want to impress someone like the Russian president, you have to exude strength and, above all, work well with your partners, said Spahn. “Chancellor Scholz is destroying all of this, including the partnership with France and the United Kingdom.” Secrets are casually spilled and Ukraine doesn’t get the support it needs. “In every respect, what the Chancellor has caused in the last two weeks is a complete disaster.”
In the afternoon there will also be a current hour in the Bundestag at 2:55 p.m. on “Tauruswiretapping scandal”. This was requested by the AfD.