During his appearance in the Bundestag, Chancellor Scholz reiterated his rejection of the “Taurus” delivery to Ukraine. In a heated debate, he accused the Union of spreading half-truths. For his part, CDU politician Röttgen spoke of deception.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz took part in the government survey in the Bundestag for the first time this year. He once again justified his rejection of the delivery of “Taurus” cruise missiles to Ukraine: “It is impossible for me to deliver long-range weapon systems that can only be meaningfully delivered if they also involve the deployment of German soldiers outside of the country Ukraine,” said the SPD politician. “That is a limit that I do not want to cross as Chancellor.”
It doesn’t matter where German soldiers are involved in a system like “Taurus”, which has a range of up to 500 kilometers. “It’s about participation in where the aim is, where the shot is taken and where the hit is made. And that shouldn’t happen to German soldiers,” said Scholz. “As Chancellor, I have the responsibility to prevent Germany from becoming involved in this war.” The other people in charge in Europe and in NATO would see it that way. Scholz did not address the issue of whether “Taurus” could also be operated without German soldiers.
Tough exchange with Röttgen
Later, when asked by Union foreign politician Norbert Röttgen, there was a sharp exchange of words. After Röttgen had asked the Chancellor whether he was of the opinion under international law that France and Great Britain had become participants in the war by supplying cruise missiles to Ukraine, the Chancellor retorted to Röttgen: “Public communication is carried out with half-truths.”
When the CDU politician replied that he had only quoted Scholz, the Chancellor said: “No. By supplying the weapons you do not become a participant in the war. Nobody said that. Not me and not anyone else that I know in the responsible environment of the federal government .”
At the same time, Scholz emphasized that he would like to go back to earlier statements: “The way it’s done in France and Great Britain doesn’t work for us.” He added: “But what annoys me, dear MP, dear Norbert, is that you know everything and conduct public communication that is based on the fact that your knowledge is not public knowledge.” The Chancellor added: “I believe that should not be the case in a democracy.”
Röttgen rejected it as an insinuation that he knew something and was keeping it from the public. In return, he accused the Chancellor of not explaining his true motives for his policies, but of always finding new excuses, “some of which contradict and exclude each other.” The CDU politician reproached Scholz: “You are not playing with clear cards. And you are aiming to deceive the public on this issue – on a question of European and national security.” Scholz contradicted him again.
Conflict with France and Great Britain?
The Chancellor also opposed the impression of a rift with France and Great Britain. “The cooperation with the governments of Great Britain and France is good,” he said. Germany is supplying weapons for more than seven billion euros this year, France for three billion euros and Great Britain for $2.5 billion. “These together create the strength.”
On Friday, Scholz will receive French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in the Chancellery. One of the topics will also be continued support for Ukraine, explained government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
Scholz rejects raising the retirement age
When asked about the statutory retirement age, Scholz also confirmed that he did not want to raise it. “The one thing that is clear is that it will not be a matter of continually raising the statutory retirement age,” said the SPD politician. The insured should be able to rely on what they paid in. Scholz sees the constant discussion about extending the statutory retirement age as counterproductive with regard to younger people: it jeopardizes their trust “that they are paying into a system that will ultimately pay off for them.”
Scholz reiterated the goals of the latest pension reform proposals from Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP). “We are stabilizing the pension level in the long term and we are supplementing it with generational capital,” said Scholz. Regarding the stabilization of pension levels, the Chancellor added: “That was one of the big promises before the election.”
Scholz against changing the right to strike
In addition, when asked about the costly consequences of the rail strike, the Chancellor spoke out against legal restrictions on the right to strike. The right to strike was fought for “as a democratic right” by unions and employees. The country can be “proud” of its social partnership. Scholz said he didn’t think it was necessary to legally regulate the right to strike – and appealed to the collective bargaining partners: “It’s always important that everyone makes good use of their opportunities.”
Georg Schwarte, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, March 13, 2024 4:23 p.m