Heated debate in the Bundestag
16.10.2024Reading time: 3 min.
The Chancellor and the opposition leader clashed in the Bundestag. Scholz demands respect for workers from Merz, to which the CDU leader reacts sharply.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced an industrial policy offensive in the Bundestag and sharply attacked opposition leader Friedrich Merz. Before the end of the month, the SPD politician wants to invite company representatives, unions and business associations to an industrial summit in the Chancellery to talk about ways out of the economic downturn. “I will suggest to this parliament that what comes out of this should be put into motion so that things can move forward in Germany.”
Scholz demanded respect from CDU chairman Merz for those who worked and who were repeatedly relieved of their burden by the traffic lights. “By the way, respect for those who work doesn’t mean that you insult them all as lazy every morning, as has apparently become fashionable in the Union,” shouted the Chancellor and added: “Mr. Merz can’t get out of bed rise without even saying: There’s not enough work being done here.”
In return, Merz accused Scholz of abusing the Bundestag for election campaigns. Instead of a government statement on the EU summit, Parliament heard an “advanced, almost desperate campaign speech” from the Chancellor, who stood “with his back to the wall” and with his feet on the edge. Above all, he accused Scholz of not saying a word about migration.
The reason for the Chancellor’s government statement was the EU summit on Thursday and Friday in Brussels, which, among other things, focused on competitiveness. In Germany there is a particular need to fight for industry, said Scholz. Germany is an industrial country and has not succumbed to the temptation of many others who have said that industry can be written off. Financial centers are the only thing you need.
That’s why we now have to fight together with industry, on which millions of jobs depend, “to ensure that we maintain this basis of our prosperity.” In addition to what the traffic light government has already initiated, he is in favor of “agreement on a new industrial policy agenda from which everyone benefits.”
The EU summit will also focus on the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. In the heated debate about arms deliveries to Israel, Scholz once again made a clear promise: “There are deliveries and there will always be more deliveries. Israel can rely on that,” he said.
The terrorist militia Hamas attacked Israel a little over a year ago. Germany must keep Israel “in a position to defend its country,” emphasized Scholz. “Israel can rely on our solidarity – now and in the future.” There were no more deliveries of military weapons to Israel between March and mid-August. It is unclear whether it currently exists.
At the same time, the Chancellor stated that humanitarian aid for the people in Gaza would continue to be needed and that the rules of international law in the Middle East war must be adhered to. There also needs to be a perspective for a two-state solution with the Palestinians, said Scholz.
Scholz assured Ukraine that Germany, along with the USA, would remain the most important supporter in the defensive fight against Russia. “We support Ukraine and will do so for as long as it is necessary.”
The Chancellor also reiterated his willingness to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about a just peace in Ukraine. The SPD politician also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had declared that there should be another peace conference, including with the participation of the Russian President. “That’s why it’s also right that, when asked, we will also speak to the Russian president, we say: Yes, that is also the case.”
Scholz emphasized that clear principles were being followed: decisions would never be made “over the heads of Ukraine and never without coordination with our closest partners.” At the same time, the Chancellor recalled that countless Russian soldiers also become “victims of the Russian President’s imperialist madness” every day. “They are also victims of his politics with the aim of expanding his country. Something that should not happen again in this way in Europe,” added Scholz.