Ukraine war
Bundestag votes again on Taurus delivery
The Bundestag will vote again today on a Taurus delivery. Scholz once again clearly rejected the delivery. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
The Union wants to know again in the dispute over cruise missiles to Ukraine. However, it has become increasingly unlikely that their application to supply the Taurus will receive a majority.
Before the renewed vote requested by the Union on the delivery of German cruise missiles to the In Ukraine, the traffic light partners have secured a common line despite the fundamental dispute over the Taurus. It is considered impossible that the motion submitted by the Union could find a majority in the Bundestag today.
Leading politicians from the Greens and FDP reiterated demands for a delivery, but made it clear that coalition discipline would be adhered to, with the exception of individual deviations. Chancellor Olaf Scholz was supported by the SPD.
Scholz had once again clearly rejected the delivery of the weapon system the day before. “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,” said the SPD politician in the Bundestag and accused the Union of to spread “half-truths” in the debate.
Röttgen to Scholz: “You are not playing with clear cards”
On behalf of the CDU/CSU, CDU politician Norbert Röttgen rejected this accusation. “You are not playing with clear cards. And you are aiming to deceive the public on this issue – on an issue of European and national security.”
Ukraine requested the missiles with a range of more than 500 kilometers from Germany last May. Experts point out that the cruise missile is superior in terms of range and accuracy to similar weapons from France and Great Britain – which are already being delivered.
Scholz repeatedly refused a delivery and expressed the fear that Germany could be drawn into the war through the use of the missiles. Within the federal government, representatives of the Greens and FDP are pushing for a delivery.
Dürr: Symbolic requests don’t get us anywhere
According to its chairman Christian Dürr, the FDP parliamentary group supports a Taurus delivery, but will not agree to the Union’s proposal for this. “We think it’s the right thing to do, no question about it, but in reality these symbolic requests don’t get us any further,” Dürr said on Tuesday.
FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai defended Scholz and accused the Union of abusing the issue for party political purposes. “I really like a head of government who acts prudently on issues such as war and peace – even if I personally have a different opinion on Taurus. It is annoying when the Union abuses this issue for party political purposes,” said Djir-Sarai “World”. The Union is not concerned with Ukraine, but only with party tactics. “Given the serious situation in Europe, this is shabby.”
Approval of Strack-Zimmermann and Kubicki?
The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann recently wanted to vote for the Union proposal again. FDP Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki also expressed his approval and declared that at least twelve FDP MPs could vote for the Union proposal if it did not bash the traffic lights and the Chancellor.
The first parliamentary director of the Green group, Irene Mihalic, does not expect any yes votes from her own ranks in the vote on the Union group’s proposal. “I don’t expect any dissidents from our group in the vote,” said Mihalic. Everyone is aware that the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s proposal is “purely motivated by domestic politics”. The Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter had not ruled out a yes to the proposal a few days ago.
Show your colors – the Union insists on a roll-call vote
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt called on the traffic light representatives to show their colors. “A number of traffic light politicians have publicly emphasized in the past few days and weeks that they are in favor of supplying this weapon system to Ukraine,” Dobrindt told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. “We are now giving these colleagues the opportunity to adapt their voting behavior to their public statements.” The Union will insist on a roll-call vote on the motion today.