Election campaign
The Greens are distancing themselves from Scholz in the Ukraine conflict
The Greens want to present themselves to the Union as a possible coalition partner. This is also reflected in the party’s Ukraine course.
In the federal election campaign, the Green Party leadership is distancing itself from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) Ukraine course. The new party leader Franziska Brantner signaled greater proximity to Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz (CDU) in the conflict with Russia.
When asked “What can you do better with Mr. Merz than with Mr. Scholz?” Brantner told “Bild am Sonntag”: “Peace, freedom in Europe and clearly standing on the side of the Ukrainians.” She was surprised that Scholz did not take part in a meeting of the Nordic and Baltic heads of state: “We have a responsibility here in Europe.” It is also unclear where the SPD is headed on its Ukraine course. However, Brantner qualified: “Oh, there are also movements within the CDU to move away from a course that clearly strengthens liberal democracies.”
The Green Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt made similar comments on Platform X. With a view to Scholz’s statements at the SPD’s “Election Victory” conference on Saturday, she emphasized that what the Chancellor had said “for me has nothing to do with prudence. It would really be better to think about it and provide sufficient support to Ukraine and thus also to protect our security and to be able to bring about sustainable peace.”
Scholz had accused Merz of taking a risky line in Ukraine policy. The CDU leader wants to give the nuclear power Russia an ultimatum with a view to possible deliveries of the Taurus cruise missile. “All I can say is be careful: you don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security,” said Scholz.
The Greens have long taken a different position than the SPD on the question of Taurus deliveries. The Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter in particular has been loudly calling for more arms deliveries from Germany to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.
dpa
Source: Stern
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