In his Ukraine course, the chancellor was accused of hesitation and lack of clarity. The criticism in the ranks of the coalition does not stop, but now there is also support for Scholz.
The pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in terms of rapid arms deliveries for Ukraine is not easing – but in the meantime SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil has vehemently supported him.
“I am very happy that we have a chancellor who thinks things through and coordinates closely with the international alliance partners,” said the SPD leader of the German Press Agency. “That’s what I expect from good leadership: no quick fixes, but thoughtful, decisive and consistent action and not changing your mind every day or relying on nice headlines.”
But the pressure is being kept up from the ranks of the coalition partner, the Greens, and from the opposition Union. The European Committee chairman in the Bundestag, Anton Hofreiter (Greens), confirmed in the newspapers of the Funke media group: “By slowing down the energy embargo and the necessary arms deliveries, there is a risk that this war will drag on longer and that Putin will attack other countries will.” At the same time, he assured that there was “no doubt whatsoever about Olaf Scholz’s chancellorship”. The security policy spokeswoman for his group, Sara Nanni, asked Scholz to position himself more clearly. “We need clarity from the Chancellor as to what the priorities are and how decisions are made,” she told the editorial network Germany.
Union considers request for delivery of heavy weapons
The Union has threatened to submit an application for the delivery of heavy weapons to the Bundestag next week if Scholz does not move. Her parliamentary manager Patrick Schnieder (CDU) confirmed this in the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” (Friday) and explained: “The dispute in the traffic light and in particular the hesitation of the Chancellor on the subject of arms deliveries is more than embarrassing and raises doubts as to which side the federal government actually stands.” Europe expert Gunther Krichbaum (CDU) told the “Bild” newspaper: “Scholz ducking away only helps Russia.”
Defense Committee Chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from coalition partner FDP has repeatedly urged Scholz to deliver heavy weapons as well. Ukraine needs “large combat equipment, immediately,” she said to “Bild”.
However, Klingbeil sees the criticism from the ranks of the coalition partners as individual opinions. “We work closely together in the government and in the coalition committee and stand together behind the decisions of the government. If there are individual dissenting opinions in the parties, then each party leadership has to take care of it themselves,” he told the dpa.
“Every day we reassess what we can still deliver. But the Bundeswehr has now largely exhausted its stocks, »he said. “This is also due to the fact that the Bundeswehr has been run down in recent years.” Klingbeil pointed out that Germany instead finances deliveries of German industry to Ukraine with a lot of money and supports the provision of heavy weapons by partner countries with training and ammunition. He also urged prudence: “We agree with our partners that we must not cross the threshold to the Third World War.”
Divided opinions on arms deliveries in the SPD
Klingbeil was calm about the differences within the SPD. Representatives of the left wing of the party have spoken out against the delivery of heavy weapons, while foreign affairs committee chairman Michael Roth is in favour. In a people’s party with almost 400,000 members, there are sometimes different opinions, said Klingbeil. “But in the end I see that there is a high degree of unity among those who bear responsibility in the SPD.”
Although Germany has sent weapons to Ukraine, it has so far held back when it comes to heavy equipment such as tanks and artillery pieces – and has not delivered anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles since March 25, according to “Welt” information. In the meantime, however, Scholz has announced that Germany wants to provide compensation if NATO partners deliver old Soviet weapons to Ukraine. According to dpa information, Slovenia, for example, is to give up T72 tanks and receive German armored personnel carriers and wheeled armored vehicles in return.
Strack-Zimmermann welcomed this in the “Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung” (Friday) and said that the Chancellery should now “coordinate the ministries involved and say very quickly what we are doing”. The implementation must be “lightning fast”.
Source: Stern
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