Status: 10/29/2022 2:54 p.m
CDU leader Merz sharply attacked Chancellor Scholz at the CSU party conference. He accused him of an unprecedented disrespect in his political work. At the same time, Merz vowed the unity of the CDU with the sister party.
The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz sharply attacked Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in his speech at the CSU party conference. “We have never had a chancellor in Germany who treated his coalition partners with such disrespect, treated the institutions of our state with such disrespect, treated our neighbors with such disrespect, treated our international partners around the world with such disrespect.” , said Merz in Augsburg. “Disrespect stands above this chancellorship.”
Merz also accused the members of the traffic light coalition of disrespectful behavior because they were not present at the recent speech by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. This is a degree of disrespect for the highest office in Germany that he would not have thought possible.
Merz: Scholz should meet ex-president Hu in China
Merz asked Scholz to also meet former Chinese President Hu Jintao on his trip to China. It was wrong that this was not planned, the opposition leader said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party Congress. There, Hu had been taken away on the open stage. “That would have been important, that would have been attitude,” said the CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader.
He also accused Scholz of leading Germany to become dependent on China after becoming dependent on Russia. He criticized the permission for the Chinese state shipping company Cosco to enter the operating company of a terminal in the port of Hamburg. This is a “morning gift” for the Chinese leadership before the Chancellor’s visit.
Merz also criticized Scholz for granting President Xi Jinping a propaganda success with the first trip by a Western head of government after the Communist Party Congress. “No predecessor in office would have done it like Scholz.” The chancellor plans to travel to Beijing with a business delegation next week.
“We’re back in first place in Germany”
With the CSU chairman Markus Söder, the CDU leader swore the unity of the two sister parties. 2021 should not be repeated, said Merz with a view to the Union defeat in the federal election. This was the answer to the dispute between the CDU and CSU: “Fighting parties are not elected.” Merz therefore emphasized: “Such an annus horribilis that will not be repeated between the CDU and CSU.”
Söder also emphasized that if you stand together, you will be successful. The CDU and CSU, Friedrich Merz and he, have a common idea and philosophy as to where Germany should go, said the CSU chairman. Looking at the current poll numbers, Merz said the Union was back after a year of opposition: “We’re back in first place in Germany.”
CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder at the CSU party conference.
Image: AFP
CDU and CSU are “not a dogmatic political family”
Merz contradicted the accusation that he and Söder would change their policies depending on the social mood. “It has nothing to do with a change of direction. It has to do with a solid foundation on which we stand and on which we do our politics,” said Merz. As conservatives, the CDU and CSU are “of course” able to face new challenges. “That’s what makes good conservatives.”
Söder also contradicted the impression that the CDU and CSU lacked a political compass: “I think the worst political turnnecks in Germany are the Greens. So whoever goes from a peace party to the largest armed party, that’s the biggest leap. ” On the other hand, the Union “always acts appropriately to the situation. That has always been the Union’s claim”.
The CDU and CSU are “not a dogmatic political family, we are not ideologues. We act according to what is appropriate for the population and the situation. Always do the right thing with a clear compass,” said Söder. “We do the same in the crisis.”