press review
Friedrich Merz puts pressure on. First, the CDU leader buttoned up the Chancellor in Parliament, calling his Ukraine policy hesitant and hesitant. Now Merz is overtaking him with his travel plans to Kyiv. So much activism is not particularly well received by the German press.
One drives, the other doesn’t. Despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s reticence, CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz is sticking to his decision to travel to Kyiv this week to demonstrate his support for the Ukrainian government. However, representatives of the traffic light coalition accuse Merz of pursuing party political purposes with the trip. In an interview on ZDF, Scholz indicated that the fact that Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was uninvited to Ukraine a few days ago is currently preventing him from making his own trip. This is how the German press rates German travel diplomacy.
“Southwest Press” (Ulm): Uninviting Frank Walter Steinmeier was of course an affront. The Chancellor’s displeasure is understandable, but not wise. It’s one thing to be careful and cautious about taking part in a war. It’s another thing, as the German head of government, to line up at the back of the line of visitors. That does not do justice to the humanitarian, economic and military aid that Germany is providing. And Friedrich Merz is not the right substitute for highly important talks with the Ukrainian president.
“Badische Zeitung” (Freiburg): A simple question helps to correctly assess the trip of the CDU chairman Friedrich Merz to Kyiv: Who benefits from it? (…) A handshake with the Ukrainian President creates beautiful images. There are still two state elections in Germany in May – first in Schleswig-Holstein, then in the particularly important North Rhine-Westphalia. The glamor of the international stage is welcome. Of course, Merz also wants to use the trip to underline his thesis of Chancellor Scholz’s inappropriate hesitation. (…) The fact that the Ukraine is only the accessories for a minimal gain in domestic political territory can be ignored or praised as tactically clever. But one can also think that the trip is pretty shabby.
“Weser Courier” (Bremen): So why is Friedrich Merz drawn to Kyiv? There is an unpleasant suspicion that someone is trying to maneuver themselves into the center of public interest. It’s hard to believe that just before two important state elections, Merz would like to tweak the CDU’s doer image in this way. Nevertheless, there is a lot to be said for it. Because Merz is party and faction leader in personal union. He must show that the CDU can win elections. And he must drive the coalition before him.
“Ludwigsburg district newspaper”: Who first? Friedrich Merz is already in the starting blocks. The leader of the opposition in the German Bundestag announces a trip to Kyiv. Merz does not have a government office, but the leader of the Union faction wants to show the flag in the Ukrainian capital first. Merz may be the foreign policy officer, but hoped-for gains in domestic politics are likely to have helped push his travel plans. A new state parliament will be elected in Schleswig-Holstein this Sunday, and one week later in North Rhine-Westphalia. In both countries, the CDU wants to defend the post of prime minister with Daniel Günther and Hendrik Wüst.
“Nuremberg News”: When traveling to Ukraine, Friedrich Merz has little to offer other than the solidarity of the largest opposition party in the German Bundestag with the country, which was attacked in violation of international law. It is high time for Scholz to visit, ideally together with French President Macron. Of course, this cannot be announced, but must happen unexpectedly. The German opposition leader plays a subordinate role in comparison. It doesn’t hurt, but it could also be avoided.
“Handelsblatt” (Dusseldorf): A trip to Kyiv is usually undertaken by someone in the opposition who is about to hold a federal election. Instead, Merz seems to have the final sprint in the North Rhine-Westphalian election campaign in mind. If the CDU lost the government majority there, it would also affect the Sauerland. He had promised the party new impetus when he was elected chairman in January. (…) Merz has ten campaign appearances in North Rhine-Westphalia this week alone. The presidiums of the CDU and CSU chose Cologne for a joint meeting to decide on a security policy paper. So there are enough stages to present yourself as the leader of the opposition. Why then also Kyiv?
Source: Stern
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