Caren Miosga with Markus Söder: Ash Wednesday and Russia worries

There is almost a scandal. Miosga speaks to Söder on his Ash Wednesday speech, who winds out that Ash Wednesday is so. Miosga hooks: “You don’t just talk to the Bavarian natives.” Söder listens to: “Oh, Bavarian natives?” Miosga has to defend itself: “You have humor, then I can also have humor.”

Sunday, 9:45 p.m.: At Caren Miosga, three top -class guests discuss the foreign policy situation, about the impending retreat of the United States from Europe, over billions of defense and nuclear weapons. Political scientist Herfried Münkler, journalist Susanne Adler and the chief of the “Bavarian natives”, Markus Söder.

At the beginning of the program, in the part, in which Miosga only speaks to him, he grilled hard by her. Questions like: “If word break in politics were a crime, what would they get brewed?” And: “Always adapt your positions to the current situation, or do you also have something like principles?”

Söder plays along, parried the questions with the usual political nothing-so-sagice and the usual Södersche counterattack: To turn, he says: “I’m always honest, especially when I’m with you.” When Miosga appeals to the hard criticism of his predecessor Horst Seehofer, who has expressed in the picture on Sonntag, Söder only says: “I am pleased that he (Seehofer) is obviously still very cheerful.” Somehow ice cold, but also funny.

Only speaks about a topic as a Söder, he gets serious. “I am deeply concerned about what happens in Russia. Especially when the Americans are no longer there.” The Bavarian Prime Minister appeals to everyone “jumping over his shadow.” And here you believe Söder that this is really important to him – more importantly: that he himself is convinced.

Why he thinks this is necessary is clear after a longer player. The MiosGA editorial team has installed a mini feature about the German soldiers in Lithuania. After this one -player, they are four of them at the table, Söder, Miosga, Adler and Münkler.

The round becomes serious. The journalist and Eastern European expert Adler warns of the Russian autumn maneuver in Belarus. Before the UkraineKlieg 2022, the deployment of the Russian troops on the Ukrainian north border would have started with such maneuvers. “We are in a real risk of war in autumn this year,” she says, while Markus Söder nods in agreement.

And this is how it goes on: compulsory military service, deterrent from strength, nuclear weapons. It has actually been clear since Obama that the Americans will withdraw from Europe. The compulsory military service is also necessary with increased defense spending, says Adler: “No country defends money.” German nuclear weapons? That is prohibited, says Münkler. But you can no longer rely on the nuclear protection of the Americans.

Towards the end, Miosga asks whether the Russian president will notice these discussions. Adler replies: Putin gets everything. If he doesn’t look at it himself, it will be summarized. You have to listen carefully to hear Söder say: “Putin always looks at Ms. Miosga.” It can be argued whether politicians should joke on such topics. But it loosens up the discussion, which is sad to death.

Towards the end, the shipment fibers a little. Münkler talks to Söder about Friedrich the Great, who emphasizes that the Prussians were always good in war leaders, Bavaria less. Until Söder ends the round with a real flat joke. Miosga asks him the last question of what he sags to criticize him by the CDU Prime Minister Daniel Günther. Söder, ice cold: “With Daniel Günther, it is sometimes like with a clock that stands still: she also shows the right time twice a day.”