A good three months ago, Chancellor Scholz declared a “turning point” after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But not much has happened since then, criticizes the opposition leader.
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz has accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) of a lack of support for Ukraine in defending against the Russian war of aggression.
More than a month after a corresponding decision by the Bundestag, the promised heavy weapons had not been delivered, said the CDU leader on Wednesday in the general debate on the 2022 budget. If you ask around in the European Union, there is now only upset, disappointment and “Really annoyed” about Germany’s role.
Merz said to Scholz: “They’ve been talking a little more than usual lately, but they haven’t said anything.” He criticized Scholz for formulating that Russia should not win the war instead of simply saying: “Ukraine must win this war.” The chancellor is on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but has no appointment for a meeting with the Ukrainian speaker of the parliament, who is coming to Berlin.
Merz accused the chancellor of not having made any concrete decisions after his determination that Russia’s war of aggression had turned the tide. “There is nothing that you seriously associate with this word “turning point” apart from new debts.” With a view to the 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr, Merz said Scholz could have made the proposal to levy a solidarity surcharge on income tax and corporate tax for the Bundeswehr. “Then today’s generation would have paid for what is actually the task of today’s generation.”
The Union faction leader asked Scholz to position himself clearly on whether Ukraine and neighboring Moldova should be given candidate status for accession to the European Union.
