AfD MP wants to vote for Scholz: Alice Weidel reacts angrily

On December 16th, SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to ask the Bundestag for a vote of confidence – and lose the vote. This is intended to clear the way for the early parliamentary elections on February 23, 2025.

That’s the plan. But at least one AfD MP wants to at least try to thwart him. Bundestag member Jürgen Pohl confirmed that he would express his confidence in Scholz star. The Social Democrat is the lesser evil compared to the CDU chairman Friedrich Merz as a possible chancellor.

“We have always said in Thuringia that the Union is our main opponent,” said Pohl. “And in this case it is the warmonger Merz.”

“Politico” first reported on the MP’s intentions. Also quoted was MP Christina Baum, who described a vote for Scholz as “worth considering”. The now non-attached former AfD MP Robert Farle was also determined to vote for the Chancellor, the report said.

Now it is not the case that a few AfD MPs could keep Scholz in office. The remains of the traffic lights only cover 325 of the 733 seats in the Bundestag. Even if the SPD and the Greens vote for Scholz for symbolic reasons, there are still 42 MPs missing for the necessary absolute majority of 367 votes.

In addition, in contrast to the election of the Federal Chancellor or a constructive vote of no confidence, the vote on the question of confidence is carried out openly. Secret games are therefore not possible, especially since a roll-call vote can also be requested.

And: Pohl and Baum will soon be part of the group’s past. He is not running for the Bundestag again for health reasons and she missed the nomination.

Nevertheless, the process is embarrassing for the AfD, especially since Pohl is picking up on the mood in the East German regional associations. “There are some there who understand my point of view,” he said. There is great support, especially at home, in his Thuringian regional association.

Pohl was long considered an important follower of the local state chairman Björn Höcke, who recently attacked the CDU leader much more strongly than the federal government. “I currently consider Friedrich Merz to be the most dangerous man in Europe”, . “If, as Chancellor, he takes the war to Russia with Taurus missiles, then Germany is likely to become a battlefield.”

Höcke’s co-country chief Stefan Möller also expresses understanding for Pohl. “Friedrich Merz’s escalation policy is extremely dangerous in the current situation,” he told the star. “I understand Jürgen Pohl’s conflict of conscience and I don’t know how I should behave.”

However, Federal Vice President Stephan Brandner, who also comes from Thuringia, expressed himself completely differently. It was a “completely unnecessary discussion,” said the Bundestag member star. It’s not about Scholz or Merz, but rather whether the Chancellor has the trust and is trusted. “And it is clear to me and should be clear to everyone: trust in no time and a clear no when asked about it.”

Party and faction leader Alice Weidel also reacted sourly. Her spokesman Daniel Tapp referred to the star that people have been calling for new elections for months. The no vote in the vote of confidence was therefore “consequential”.

The Saxon Bundestag member Barbara Benkstein argues similarly. There are debates before every vote, she said star. But: “In this specific case, it’s about voting out Scholz and his remaining ramp. They have to go. As quickly as possible.”

And Tino Chrupalla? He is said to think more like Pohl. But Weidel’s co-boss did not respond to a request. It is therefore unclear whether he sees the matter similarly to Frank Pasemann. The former AfD member of the Bundestag, who is attributed to Chrupalla’s entourage and was expelled from the party in 2020, said: “For this position alone, not to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and given the alternative of prematurely enthroning a war chancellor, Merz, should Every member of the Bundestag should carefully consider whether they agree to the vote of no confidence.”

Pohl summarizes the situation in the AfD like this. “I don’t represent a collection movement.” Nevertheless, the group is now “a bit excited”.

And this excitement is definitely being noted by the Social Democrats and the Greens. In case of doubt, it was said, the government factions would behave as they did in 2005 when the then SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was asked for a vote of confidence. At that time, some MPs abstained in order to secure the desired negative vote.