Bundestag
<a href="https://time.news/budget-crisis-forces-germany-to-once-again-suspend-the-constitutional-limit-on-public-debt/" title="Budget crisis forces Germany to once again suspend the constitutional limit on public debt”>Scholz announces industrial summit – election campaign duel with Merz
Updated on October 16, 2024Reading time: 3 min.
A year before the election date, Germany is in the middle of the federal election campaign. A government statement by the Chancellor in the Bundestag is proof of this.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced an industrial policy offensive in the Bundestag and sharply attacked Union parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz. Before the end of the month, the SPD politician wants to invite company representatives, unions and 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. He stands “with his back to the wall and his feet on the abyss”. Above all, Merz accused Scholz of not saying a word about migration.
The reason for the Chancellor’s government statement is the EU summit on Thursday and Friday in Brussels, which will, among other things, focus on Europe’s 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: industry can be written off, financial centers are the only thing you need.
That’s why we now have to fight for the country’s prosperity together with the industry, which provides millions of jobs. In addition to what the traffic light government has already initiated, he wants to set up “a new industrial policy agenda” from which everyone will benefit. This should be agreed at the upcoming summit.
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 country attacked by the terrorist militia Hamas must be kept in a position to defend itself.
Between March and mid-August, the federal government no longer approved deliveries of military weapons to Israel. It is unclear whether this is currently the case.
The AfD chairman Tino Chrupalla criticized the further arms deliveries announced by Scholz. In doing so, the Chancellor is accepting “the dehumanization of all civilian deaths on both sides. They do not contribute to de-escalation, but rather keep adding fuel to the fire,” the party and parliamentary group leader accused the federal government in the Bundestag.
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.”
Merz again accused the Chancellor of hesitancy. “With your attitude, you are also personally responsible for the fact that (…) Ukraine has to fight against Putin with one hand behind its back. This cannot continue like this,” said the Union faction leader. “Mr. Chancellor, it’s time for you, it’s also time for us to overcome our fear of Putin so that we can really put an end to the atrocities in Ukraine together.”
If Putin doesn’t give in, he “must be told: If he doesn’t stop bombing the civilian population in Ukraine within 24 hours, then Taurus cruise missiles will also have to be delivered from the Federal Republic of Germany,” Merz added. This could destroy the supply routes that Moscow uses to bomb the civilian population in Ukraine. Scholz has so far been strictly against delivery of the particularly powerful and long-range Taurus cruise missiles.