Ukrainian President Selenskyj is asking for help in the Bundestag. Chancellor and Parliament applaud. Then follows an aftermath that many later describe as “unworthy” and “embarrassing.”
A few heads of state have already spoken in the Bundestag, but none of the previous appearances can be compared to this one.
It’s war in Europe and from the front, from the embattled capital of Kyiv, the Ukrainian President joined the crowded plenary hall in the Reichstag building via video on Thursday.
Due to technical problems, the shift will only take place with a short delay. In Kyiv there was “an attack in the immediate vicinity” of the office, says Parliament Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens). But shortly thereafter, Zelenskyj can be seen on a large monitor behind the government bench – in military gear and with the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag at his side.
He is greeted with standing applause from the deputies. Then he speaks to German politicians in a way that has rarely been seen before in the Bundestag. The sanctions came too late, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline helped prepare for the war, and Ukraine was denied accession to NATO, he complains. He holds Germany partly responsible for a wall that runs through Europe. «It is a wall in the middle of Europe between freedom and bondage. And this wall gets bigger with every bomb that falls on Ukraine, with every decision not made.”
Selenskyj: “Never again” is “simply worth nothing”
The word wall comes up again and again in the speech. Selenskyj knows how to hit a nerve. The day before, in the US Congress, he recalled the Japanese bombing of the US base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii during World War II and the attacks of September 11, 2001. Now it is the German war of annihilation 80 years ago that he mentions. Politicians would repeat again and again: “Never again”. “And now we see that these words are simply worth nothing,” he says.
Zelenskyj calls for tougher sanctions against Russia, a freeze on energy imports and Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. And finally he turns directly to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who listens to the speech from the government bank: “Dear Chancellor Scholz, destroy this wall. Give Germany the leadership that Germany deserves.” He is quoting US President Ronald Reagan, who, during a visit to Berlin in 1987, demanded that Soviet head of state Mikhail Gorbachev tear down the Berlin Wall.
Bundestag moves on to the agenda
Scholz applauds, the entire government applauds and also the plenum. That was it already. The Bundestag proceeds to the agenda without interrupting the session. As usual, the Vice-President of the Bundestag reads out birthday wishes at the beginning of a session. The first heckling comes from the ranks of the Union. “Unworthy!”.
Instead of a substantive discussion, there follows a debate on the rules of procedure on the question: do we perhaps want to talk about it now or rather not. And that in the face of a war that has already cost the lives of thousands of people.
Green politician Haßelmann: “Just let it work on you”
The CDU/CSU has submitted a request for a 68-minute debate in which, in their opinion, Scholz should also speak. The coalition rejects this. «We, the traffic light coalition, are convinced that the words of the Ukrainian President speak for themselves. You deserve to be recognized for yourself, »says the parliamentary director of the SPD parliamentary group, Katja Mast.
And the leader of the Greens parliamentary group, Britta Haßelmann, accuses the Union of “staging”. She should “just let Selenskyj’s speech sink in,” she says.
Left-wing politician Korte: “Absolutely ridiculous”
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Left, Jan Korte, calls the coalition’s attitude “absolutely ridiculous”. Addressing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said: “You have to be careful not to be as arrogant after 100 days as others are after 16 years.” Thursday was the 100th day of the traffic light government’s term of office.
In the end, the debate is rejected – with the votes of the traffic light coalition. The opposition, on the other hand, votes in favor of it with rare unity from the CDU, CSU, left and AfD. Then the debate about compulsory vaccination begins.
The CDU MP Norbert Röttgen then tweeted. “Today was the most undignified moment in the Bundestag that I have ever experienced.”
Röttgen has been a member of Parliament for 28 years. Others speak of an “embarrassing” event. Hasselmann also later admits that the debate was “very unfortunate”. “We should all evaluate today self-critically and ensure that such a process does not repeat itself.”
Scholz appreciates “impressive words” – but no commitment
And Scholz? He looks at part of the mandatory vaccination debate and then goes over to the Chancellery to meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Before the interview, he acknowledged Selenskyj’s “impressive words” in front of journalists. And he offers him further help. Specifically, he will not.
At last week’s EU summit, he opposed two of Zelenskyy’s core demands: the prospect of EU membership and a freeze on Russian energy supplies, which are helping to finance the war. Weapons deliveries to Ukraine are to be continued, but the federal government has decided to keep quiet about it.
After Zelenskyj’s speech, the USA promised more weapons
Incidentally, there was no debate about Zelenskyy’s speech in the US Congress on Wednesday. However, a few hours later, US President Joe Biden responded. He pledged an additional $800 million in arms supplies and military aid to Ukraine. This would provide Ukraine with thousands of anti-tank weapons, around 800 anti-aircraft missiles, 7,000 firearms such as submachine guns, numerous grenade launchers, 20 million rounds of ammunition and even drones. “America stands by the forces of liberty,” said the President.
Source: Stern
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