Cityscape debate: Linnemann urges Klingbeil to be disciplined

CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann urges Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil to be more disciplined in the “cityscape” debate. “I was surprised by the Vice Chancellor’s statements,” said Linnemann on Friday evening at the federal congress of the Ring of Christian Democratic Students (RCDS) in Berlin.

Linnemann criticized Klingbeil for spreading his criticism of the Chancellor through government channels. The undertone was clear: This is not appropriate. “I actually had the impression at the last coalition committee that everyone knew what it was about,” added the CDU general secretary.

In a previous speech, Klingbeil had clearly distanced himself from Friedrich Merz’s criticism of the German cityscape. “I want to live in a country where appearance doesn’t determine whether you fit into the cityscape or not,” said Klingbeil. Politics must build bridges and bring society together instead of dividing it with language. The criticism was spread via the Federal Ministry of Finance’s official social media channels, which is extremely unusual for criticism within the government.

In the Union, Klingbeil’s actions caused some sharp criticism. Many young RCDS members also called for more courage from their party on Friday evening and were openly angry with their coalition partner. RCDS boss Lukas Honemann said: “At our universities we have been experiencing for a long time that certain groups are restricting the space for free thought and speech.” The SPD Vice Chancellor is now trying something similar in the political debate – “Friedrich Merz says what 63 percent of citizens think,” said Honemann. This is shown by a ZDF survey.

The association’s deputy head, Valentin Ilja Kukuk, demanded that Linnemann not put up with such attacks from his coalition partner. After all, the CDU won the election, not the SPD. “How are you supposed to govern with such a coalition partner?” asked another delegate. Applause in the Schöneberg town hall.

Linnemann tried to de-escalate the matter. But in his opening words, the Secretary General made it clear how much the debate was bothering him internally. “It’s often no longer about what you say, but about what can be interpreted in the worst case,” said Linnemann. “I think that’s totally dangerous.”

The Secretary General also made his own party more responsible. There was also criticism of the Chancellor’s statements from within his own ranks. “We have to stand together as a party in this debate and develop an esprit de corps,” he demanded. You have to be able to call problems by their name. “We shouldn’t be afraid of the shitstorm,” said Linnemann. Friedrich Merz is showing the way.

Vice Chancellor Klingbeil recently defended Merz in his speech. You have to watch out for someone, said Klingbeil to be insulted as right-wing extremist or racist when you know he doesn’t mean it that way. “We have to be careful what stamp we put on someone,” said the SPD leader. But hardly anyone had heard that. Klingbeil’s social media team only spread the attack on Merz.