Ex-SPD boss Walter-Borjans: “Putin cannot be hotted”

Former SPD boss Norbert Walter-Borjans attacks critics of the peace manifest he signed. “I am dismayed about how a manifesto that clearly linked defense ability and offensive willingness to negotiate the message, we simply pleaded for discussions with Russia,” said Walter-Borjans star. In particular, he called the CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter. “What Mr. Kiesewetter lets go there could be counterattack with the equivalent accusation that someone wants to war.

Walter-Borjans continued: “But all of this also shows how important it is, the belief that you can use armaments without a financial border and the succinct statement that negotiations are senseless to come to an end of bloodshed.” It is not about putting one truth against another. “It is about the admission that a man like Putin cannot beverted and the Russian people are far from shaking it off. As desirable, it would be desirable to wrestle a stable world order without any accommodation – unfortunately it is not only illusory in this case.”

To take note of this and negotiate tolerable solutions with a cool head is not primarily the task of the battered Ukraine, but all of Europe, if possible, together with the USA.

A group of predominantly left-wing Social Democrats calls for new discussions with Russia and stopping new US missiles. The 5 percent line in defense spending is described as “irrational” by the authors. The text has caused harsh reactions, also in the SPD itself. “This paper is a refusal to realize.

The Jusos, on the other hand, support the controversial manifesto. “If we had actually spent 3.5 % of GDP exclusively for traditional defense in 2024, that would have been over 150 billion euros. These are largely decoupled from reality,” said Juso boss Philipp Türmer star. “It is good that we now have these debates, because in addition to the content level, they also have a psychological effect. For example, by promoting the security policy together with international partners, this is important in view of the Russian threat situation. But then we should also talk more about the specific points of cooperation and not only argue about GDP numbers.”

Former SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, one of the signatories of the controversial disarmament manifest, also defended the paper. “Basically, we need a combination of defense ability and incentives for conflict insulation and for coexistence,” said Mützenich star. The Social Democrat admitted that the claims contained in the paper can cause irritation. “Our considerations can not answer all questions either, and yet we are looking for away in dangerous times, especially since the high investments in the military and armor limit the financial means for innovations and reforms inside.”