Taurus leak
Lindner sharply rejects allegations against Strack-Zimmermann
FDP leader Lindner stands in front of his party colleague Strack-Zimmermann. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
FDP defense politician Strack-Zimmermann is known as a fighter. Now she has to defend herself on her own behalf. Your party leader warns the SPD against a “campaign”.
After sharp attacks from the SPD, FDP leader Christian Lindner addressed the chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, posed.
“The accusations from the SPD are disproportionate and false. This is distracting from a factual debate. There may be an attempt to silence a colleague with a clear opinion,” said the Federal Finance Minister in a video interview with the German Press Agency. He also criticized: “And the fact that it is now being attacked on a different level because of its clarity in support for Ukraine is actually not appropriate for a coalition.”
Sharp critic of Scholz’s Ukraine policy
Strack-Zimmermann is one of the harshest critics of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) course in Ukraine policy. Most recently, in the Bundestag, she twice approved Union proposals to “immediately” pass on the extensive Taurus weapons system to Ukraine. Approval from the coalition for an opposition motion is actually considered taboo – especially since Scholz strictly rejects a Taurus delivery with the argument that Germany could be drawn into the war.
Strack-Zimmermann, also the European Liberals’ top candidate for the European elections, is herself known for being able to dish it out politically. Most recently, she accused SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich of “Social Democratic appeasement politics” after he asked in the Bundestag: “Isn’t it time that we not only talk about how to wage a war, but also think about how “You can freeze a war and end it later?” Appeasement stands for a policy of restraint and accommodation towards states that are aggressive in foreign policy, in the hope of being able to appease their ambitions.
Because of her criticism of Scholz, Strack-Zimmermann has become a red flag for many. The parliamentary managing director of the SPD parliamentary group, Katja Mast, accused her of “low-level and malicious” attacks on the SPD.
Open doubts about Strack-Zimmermann as committee head
There are now sharp words in the coalition, especially because of a secret meeting of the Defense Committee on Monday last week. Afterwards, information about the Taurus cruise missile became public. 105 people took part in the meeting. Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) initially expressed her surprise that Strack-Zimmermann had allowed such a large group of participants.
The SPD parliamentary group’s defense policy spokesman, Wolfgang Hellmich, asked how Strack-Zimmermann can “ensure that the Defense Committee works independently and trustingly.” Hellmich announced: “I will therefore suggest that these and other questions be discussed in a round of democratic representatives without the committee chair.”
The SPD is openly doubting Strack-Zimmermann as committee leader. Criticism also comes from the AfD. The FDP politician was “absolutely miscast” as chairwoman of the defense committee, said AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel in a video interview with the dpa. She hopes that the FDP politician cannot “save herself” into the European Parliament.
Lindner raises allegations against the SPD
Lindner now stood in front of his party colleague. “Even in the German Bundestag, under the conditions of cooperation in the coalition, there are different opinions. However, different opinions on the matter must not now turn into a campaign against a colleague,” he warned. Lindner said that Green MP Konstantin von Notz had already pointed out problems of secrecy and confidentiality to Bundestag President Bas. Lindner demanded: “Now we have to ask whether the President of Parliament has also followed up on these tips.”
One thing is certain: the tone in the coalition has become more acrimonious in recent weeks. Some are already reminded of the previous black-yellow coalition, in which the CSU and FDP insulted each other as a “cucumber group” and “wild pigs”. A few days ago, at an anniversary reception for the SPD Seeheimer, Chancellor Scholz wished that the “spirit for the entire government” would be rekindled once again. “There’s something there with undercutting, even in the government,” he said.
Lindner emphasized that he shared the desire for quieter coalition work. “But how does that fit with the SPD’s current coalition decisions, which continually question the coalition agreement, from tax increases to new reasons for national debt? I can hear the words, the decisions and the actions speak a different language.”