2024-09-29 08:59:27
The traffic light’s security package is in danger of being destroyed in the dispute. SPD parliamentary group vice-president Dirk Wiese defends the package as a “necessary response” to the Solingen terrorist attack – also against criticism within his own ranks.
Migration, pensions, budget 2025: The traffic light faces huge tasks, but it could not live to see the next few months. The FDP is openly cutting into the foundations of the government, the Greens are replacing their entire leadership. And the SPD? You also have to be careful that your centrifugal forces don’t get too excessive. This is not just due to the chronically unpopular Chancellor Olaf Scholz. There is also resistance within the party to the plans of the SPD leadership when it comes to the traffic light “security package”.
Is the package of measures that followed the Solingen attack shaky? The deputy parliamentary group leader of the SPD, Dirk Wiese, is confident that the schedule will be adhered to. The spokesman for the conservative Seeheimer Kreis, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is also calling on his party to go on the offensive: with an industrial electricity price, a pragmatic migration course – and a reform of the debt brake.
t-online: Mr. Wiese, the party leaders at the Greens threw in the towel this week, and shortly afterwards the board of the Green Youth left the party. Shouldn’t something happen to the SPD too?
Dirk Wiese: The SPD experienced very turbulent times in the last grand coalition and I am glad that we have overcome them. We have responsibility for the country, we stand by that. Respect for the decision of Omid Nouripour and Ricarda Lang, but I see no need to emulate the Greens.
Dirk Wiese is deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, responsible, among other things, for domestic and legal policy. Wiese is also one of three speakers for the Seeheimer Kreis, the conservative wing of the SPD parliamentary group. Founded in 1974 as a working group of SPD members, the Seeheimer Kreis sees itself as a “pragmatic” and “modern” voice of social democracy.
Can’t personnel renewal be beneficial?
It remains to be seen whether this will be beneficial for the Greens. I was particularly surprised by the severity of the criticism from the Green Youth. Some things are better clarified internally. I am glad that we in the SPD are discussing things more constructively with each other.
Not all comrades see it that way. Criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also become increasingly louder in the SPD, especially regarding his brittle demeanor. Does Olaf Scholz have to try harder?
In the federal election there will be a clear decision on the direction of this country: Will we shape Germany’s future with Olaf Scholz or go back to the past with Friedrich Merz? Voters need to know what is at stake.
The Union is at over 30 percent in the polls, the SPD at 16. How can the Chancellor beat Merz?
I don’t want to hide the fact that we were hoping for Merz as the Union’s candidate for chancellor. This week in the Bundestag we saw how thin-skinned Merz is when you only bring up the topic of Blackrock. Merz makes politics for the top one percent and not for the broad middle of society.
The Social Democrats have lost almost all elections since Olaf Scholz took office. How should the SPD get out of the low mood?
We have to step up our game, that’s clear to us. But it is possible. Olaf Scholz recently struck a different tone in the Bundestag. We all have to roll up our sleeves together now and then we can do it.
“We”, that also means the Chancellor?
After the Islamist attack in Solingen, the traffic light promised to quickly decide on a security package. At an expert hearing there was now a hail of criticism, including from traffic light representatives. Is the package wobbling?
The security package is the necessary response to this terrible terrorist attack: We are tightening gun laws, giving our police more powers and ensuring the consistent enforcement of the rule of law. Evidence came out of the hearing that we will now talk about. However, the goal remains to pass the law in the Bundestag in October.
“When people arrive here and commit the most serious crimes, they have to leave the country.”
SPD parliamentary group deputy Dirk Wiese
Whether that works remains to be seen. Resistance is also forming in the SPD: an incendiary letter from thousands of SPD members accuses leading Social Democrats of placing entire population groups under suspicion of terrorism and of serving right-wing narratives. What do you answer them?