Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is chairwoman of the Defense Committee – she has long campaigned for arms deliveries.Image: dpa / Fabian Sommer
Germany
Boris Pistorius (SPD) has been the Federal Republic’s new defense minister for a few hours. He doesn’t have time to get used to it. The Rammstein Conference takes place the day after he is sworn in. There he will discuss further support for Ukraine with his counterparts.
Certainly also an issue: the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks. At the request of the Union faction, the Bundestag is already talking about the heavy equipment on the day of the swearing-in. The Christian Democrats want to apply pressure with an application. To Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), to Defense Minister Pistorius and to the traffic lights.
Union: Chancellor’s hesitation makes Germany a brake pad
“Now is the time to provide Ukraine with effective support,” said CDU politician Johann Wadephul in his speech. The current time is favorable because there is still enough time to train the Ukrainian soldiers before the next Russian offensive starts in the spring. The tanks, says Wadephul, don’t even have to come from the stocks of the armed forces be taken. Because the German armaments industry would have enough in stock.
CDU politician Johann Wadephul criticizes the chancellor’s hesitation. Image: IMAGO/Future Image
The CDU politician describes the German government as a brake on Europe: All deliveries of battle tanks failed due to the Chancellor’s hesitation. He elaborates:
“The Chancellor’s refusal and Germany’s non-delivery is a unilateral effort that is wrong, irresponsible and failing Ukraine in a crucial situation.”
The reference to the USA is also unjustified for Wadephul. Because Washington, says the CDU politician, gave the go-ahead a long time ago. “Germany is being driven again,” criticizes Wadephul.
SPD: Union uses tanks for self-portrayal
A criticism that SPD politician Dietmar Nietan does not want to let sit on himself and his party. He lashes out at the previous speaker: “We keep hearing the same record from the Union, and you have to ask yourself whether party politics or working together should be on the agenda in this existential situation.”
For Nietan, the fact that the opposition leader’s motion comes a day before the Rammstein discussion is part of a system. He assumes that the CDU/CSU parliamentary group knows that the topic will be debated the next day – and that if the partners agree, they will speculate that they will be able to stage themselves as drivers.
FDP: Democrats must stand together
The FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is also promoting a friendlier approach to one another. In her speech she says: “I think we should be a little nicer to each other in view of this international situation.” The Liberals also protect Pistorius as a precaution by making it clear that he does not have a 100-day training period. In fact, not even two.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann met Wladimir Klitschko, the brother of the mayor of Kiev, in the fall.Image: dpa / Kay Nietfeld
It is also clear, the FDP woman makes clear, that Germany will continue to stand by Ukraine’s side. If it’s after FDP goes, then clearly with more weapons. “Anyone who wants to destroy our system here will have to deal with all of us democrats,” explains Strack-Zimmermann.
Green: No reasons against the delivery
Green politician Agnieszka Brugger is also determined to support Ukraine. It makes it clear how much the arms deliveries from Germany have achieved in the past few months. But it is also clear: “Ukraine needs modern tank systems for deterrence as soon as possible.”
The defense expert says:
“That the federal government has finally decided to deliver the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. That’s right and necessary.”
And then comes the but: “We should, no, we must also take the next step. Infantry fighting vehicles are intended for joint use with main battle tanks.” For this reason, Brugger explains, everyone is now looking at the Rammstein conference at the weekend. The Green politician makes it clear that a decision against the deliveries would be incomprehensible to her. She says: “There are no compelling reasons not to deliver the Leopard 2 tanks.”
The situation in the schools is still poor: waves of illness are sweeping through the classrooms. Pupils as well as teaching staff – all of them drop out again and again. In some regions of the republic, the situation before the Christmas holidays was so dramatic that classes had to be combined.
