The chancellor hesitated for a long time out of fear of a third world war. Now the Bundestag gives the go-ahead for heavy weapons to Ukraine with a large majority. This is how the German press commented on the decision.
With the Bundestag’s yes to the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine, Germany has completed another U-turn and has sided more clearly than ever with Kiev in the Russian war of aggression. On Thursday in Berlin, the parliament passed a joint motion by the traffic light coalition and the Union with a large majority. The opposition from the left and AfD sees the danger of a nuclear war because Germany is now becoming a war party.
With a large majority of 586 votes, the Bundestag called on the federal government to “continue and, where possible, accelerate the delivery of the necessary equipment to Ukraine and also expand the delivery of heavy weapons and complex systems, for example as part of the ring exchange”. 100 MPs voted no, seven abstained. On Tuesday, the federal government approved the delivery of Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to the German armaments industry. These are the first heavy weapons to be delivered directly from Germany to Ukraine. Before the Ukraine war, the principle applied was not to hand over weapons to crisis areas.
Heavy weapons for Ukraine: “It completely misses the nerve of the population”
This is how German newspapers comment on the decision of the Bundestag:
“Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”: “The motion, in which the delivery of heavy weapons and ‘ring exchanges’ are welcomed and demanded, had already fulfilled its task from the point of view of the Union before it was passed. Certainly it was not only the opposition that made the chancellor to finally speed up the delivery of tanks and other heavy equipment to Ukraine. But pressure from the Union helped remind Scholz of what action is. The Cheetahs came faster than the Bundestag. The Panzerwende is one of many in the German Ukraine policy, which only comes into play when there is no other way. For Scholz, the method has the disadvantage of being seen as a procrastinator, but the advantage of being able to present the reluctant SPD faction with a fait accompli.”
“Frankfurt New Press”: “Yesterday, the Bundestag once again fulfilled its state-political responsibility and showed its stance on the explosive issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine with an impressive majority. With this, Germany is sending an important signal to Moscow, to Kyiv and to the rest of the world. Everything else would be an oath of revelation. But the debate was not a great moment of parliamentarism either. Union faction leader Merz denounced Scholz’s “timidity” when deciding on the delivery of heavy weapons. A point of criticism that seems exaggerated, but Scholz’ concerns continue to coincide with them Parts of the population. It would certainly have been better if the traffic light factions and the chancellor at the top had unanimously and clearly positioned themselves earlier. But Germany is well used to a certain hesitation on this issue.”
“Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”: “The Union should be treated to the triumph of having submitted an application first. It was an important impetus, Parliament has to debate such key decisions. What will not help Ukraine, however, is to spend a long time deriving the decision You can blame a government for communicating poorly, but not for weighing up serious decisions, and when the opponent has nuclear weapons and hasn’t given a damn about rules, serious is almost an understatement.
“OM Media”: “Chancellor Olaf Scholz is now obliged to put an end to his hesitation, with which he revealed a frightening weakness in leadership, which is tantamount to a failure in the crisis. Parliament has now taken the decision from him – and assumed responsibility. The unity of the government factions and the Union as the largest opposition force is therefore an important signal to Kyiv, the NATO allies and the international community that Germany is making its maximum contribution to defending the sovereignty of Ukraine, Western values and the stability of the order Scholz was meanwhile absent, because of his state visit to Japan – that is also of symbolic significance.The chancellor, who is not in the Bundestag for a decision of historical importance in times that are also tantamount to an existential test for Europe, is now a non-existent chancellor at the latest. “
“Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung”: “Putin’s confidante Medvedev, with whom he alternated in the posts of President and Prime Minister, is already prophesying, in view of German arms deliveries, that it will end sadly. Ukraine, in turn, wants to retaliate for Russian atrocities with attacks on Russia. With German weapons? The decision, tanks and Delivering other heavy equipment is the riskiest that Germany has encountered so far. It completely misses the nerve of the population. The superficial debate about it is even more so. The decision has not been properly thought through in its possible consequences. No wonder that Scholz prefers to be far away flew. Although it is his job to protect the German people from harm.”
“Badish newspaper”: “With this week’s decisions, politicians in Berlin have gotten rid of the accusation of failure to provide aid. The question now comes to the fore as to whether these go too far, because Russia could see NATO participation in tanks from Germany and other states of the western alliance “The AfD and the left see it that way. And it is actually no trifle when the foreign minister of a nuclear power calls the danger of a third world war real – as Sergey Lavrov did this week. The federal government must also admit that Germany is a risk because Moscow’s actions have become unpredictable. It is therefore good that the SPD, Greens, FDP, CDU and CSU also address efforts to achieve a ceasefire in their Bundestag resolution.”
“Leipziger Volkszeitung”: “Now they have joined forces after all: the coalition and Union voted in the Bundestag for comprehensive aid to Ukraine, including the delivery of heavy weapons. You can blame a government for communicating poorly, but not for weighing up serious decisions “And if the opponent has nuclear weapons and hasn’t bothered about the rules up to now, serious is almost an understatement. Other nations have already announced their heavy equipment earlier, a catch only came up at the military aid conference in Ramstein among most of the offers.”
“Reutlingen General Gazette”: “Scholz could have postponed his trip to Japan and used the debate, no, he should have, to explain his actions, which are perceived by far more than just the opposition as hesitation and procrastination. After all, the risk of a third world war was the reason for weeks for the reluctance to deliver weapons. Now suddenly tanks are being delivered to the Ukraine – although nothing has changed in the basic situation.”
“Pforzheim Newspaper”: “First a turning point, then a reversal. The Russian attack on Ukraine has changed the world. And it has changed the politics of this federal government. Just four months in office, the traffic light is confronted with a serious challenge that forces it to to break the decades-long principle of not delivering weapons from Germany to war zones. The Greens and the FDP are driving the SPD. This is also a turning point. Which Green party congress would have backed this policy ten years ago? Internationally, it is at best a side note, But for German domestic policy it is of symbolic importance that in the vote in the Bundestag on the delivery of arms to Ukraine, the traffic light and the Union approved a joint motion.”
“Rhein-Zeitung”: “Internationally it is at best a side note, but for German domestic politics it is of symbolic importance that the traffic light faction and the Union agreed to a joint motion in the vote in the Bundestag on the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine. It is the vote a very grand coalition, a statement of national unity, in which Union faction leader Friedrich Merz was then unfortunately carried away to unpack the party-political club.Unnecessary and inappropriate – on this day on this topic.Merz should not be elected tactically when it comes to the two-thirds majority in the Bundestag is going to push through the 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr.”
Source: Stern
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