Bundestag: SPD: Scholz did not threaten a vote of confidence

Shortly before the upcoming Bundestag vote on the coalition’s so-called security package, the SPD leadership is concerned about resistance within its own ranks. In a test vote by the parliamentary group led by Rolf Mützenich, around 20 to 25 of the 207 SPD MPs voted against it, as participants reported on Tuesday evening. This alone is unlikely to endanger the majority, although the green coalition partner also has considerable reservations. The traffic light legislative package is intended to help curb irregular migration and strengthen internal security. The Bundestag has put the vote on the agenda for Friday.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) warned his own MPs in clear words to give their consent. According to participants in the group meeting, he said that if necessary he would “make use of his options” if the coalition’s own majority was in danger. The “Spiegel” first reported on it.

Did Scholz threaten to ask for a vote of confidence?

However, the designated SPD general secretary Matthias Miersch rejected the perception that Scholz could have meant the question of trust – that is, could have linked his remaining in office to the question. “He didn’t threaten a vote of confidence,” said Miersch on the ARD talk show “Maischberger.” Even those close to the Chancellor said that such an interpretation was “somewhat exaggerated.” Scholz wanted to remind people of the faction rule that you discuss internally and then vote as a unit for what the majority wants.

Miersch said the vote result was “very, very clear.” However, there was a “definitely lively discussion”. He also thinks this is relevant to the topic, because it is also about the question of “how do we deal with fundamental rights”. Now the “appeal to everyone is that the so-called group discipline applies”.

Pressure from the left wing

The traffic light factions had already revised the security package and defused key points. Nevertheless, the Jusos wrote to all SPD representatives and called for rejection. “Above all, the planned cuts in social benefits below the subsistence level for certain people seeking protection must continue to be rejected. A “bread, bed and soap” policy is a policy against human dignity and must not be decided by social democrats,” it says Letter available to the German Press Agency. Social Democrats from the party base had also already turned against the project in an open letter.

Juso boss Philipp Türmer accused Scholz of putting his critics under pressure. “I hope that no one who wants to vote against the package will be intimidated by it and I can only say to everyone: Don’t let yourself be defeated,” he told the magazine “Stern”. He was happy that there was resistance to this package in the group. “The package is going in completely the wrong direction.”

To be on the safe side, the coalition now wants to have a roll call vote in the plenary session, as the “Table.Media” portal reports in its “briefing”. This would increase the pressure on potential dissenters to submit to party discipline.

What the security package is about

The coalition factions SPD, Greens and FDP in the Bundestag agreed on the security package after the Islamist attack in Solingen. Three people were killed and eight injured in a suspected Islamist knife attack at a city festival in August. The suspected Syrian should have been deported to Bulgaria in 2023, but this failed.

The legislative package introduces a general ban on knives at public events. Asylum seekers who are obliged to leave the country should have benefits canceled if, according to the so-called Dublin rules, another EU country is responsible for them and there is nothing preventing them from leaving. In terrorism investigations, it should be possible to compare biometric data on the Internet if the President of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has this approved by a court.