The SPD and FDP are actually in a joint coalition. Nevertheless, the coalition sometimes adopts a harsher tone. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is now lashing out in the election campaign.
The FDP’s top candidate for the European elections, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has voiced sharp and very fundamental criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s political style. “You can’t reach him because he’s a blatant know-it-all,” she told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (Wednesday). “After three years, I’ve noticed that he has downright autistic traits, both in terms of his social contacts in politics and his inability to explain his actions to citizens.”
Strack-Zimmermann is currently chair of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee and a vocal advocate of extensive support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. In this context, she has repeatedly been noted for harsh criticism of Scholz, whom she has repeatedly accused of hesitation in supplying weapons to Kiev. The FDP defense expert now stressed that her criticism does not only refer to the Chancellor’s Ukraine policy. “This applies to all issues and is also confirmed to me by his party colleagues.”
SPD accuses Strack-Zimmermann of disrespect
SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert rejected the criticism and accused Strack-Zimmermann of disrespect. “Those who have no arguments left verbally denigrate their political competitors. Ms. Strack-Zimmermann has long since become a method of attacking other opinions using strong language,” he told the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday). “Her disrespectful psychologization of the Chancellor is just the tip of the iceberg.” The FDP politician is running for a seat in the European Parliament. “If she behaves there in the same way as she has done in Germany so far, that will not be good for the reputation of the Federal Republic and our parliamentary culture,” said Kühnert.
“If someone twists the story, I get really angry” – Strack-Zimmermann argues with Augstein and Blome
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The SPD’s top candidate for the European elections, Katarina Barley, sees Strack-Zimmermann’s comments as a “pathologisation of the competitor” Scholz. “This crosses a red line in democratic competition,” Barley told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. She noticed “how measure and balance are lost in the debate”. Barley said of Scholz that she was “glad that the Chancellor thinks before he decides and then acts prudently”. His calm manner is a virtue.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
