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Scholz is the crisis manager – the Chancellor only briefly loses his composure when it comes to Cum-Ex

2022-08-12T06:21:03.886Z


Scholz is the crisis manager – the Chancellor only briefly loses his composure when it comes to Cum-Ex Created: 08/12/2022, 08:14 By: Fabian Hartmann Berlin: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke in the federal press conference during the summer press conference on domestic and foreign policy issues. © Kay Nietfeld/dpa It was a performance that was eagerly awaited: in Berlin, Olaf Scholz answered


Scholz is the crisis manager – the Chancellor only briefly loses his composure when it comes to Cum-Ex

Created: 08/12/2022, 08:14

By: Fabian Hartmann

Berlin: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke in the federal press conference during the summer press conference on domestic and foreign policy issues.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

It was a performance that was eagerly awaited: in Berlin, Olaf Scholz answered questions from the capital's journalists.

The chancellor showed determination – only on one subject did he remain tight-lipped.

Berlin – It was a premiere for Olaf Scholz.

Of course, the SPD politician was already in the federal press conference.

To be precise: 33 times.

In his long career as Hamburg mayor, as a minister.

But not as chancellor.

On Thursday, Scholz, in his capacity as head of government, answered questions from the capital's journalists for the first time - for almost two hours, a ride through domestic and foreign policy.

Perhaps the biggest surprise: the chancellor himself.

Scholz presented himself quick-witted, seemed recovered after his vacation – and kept flashing humor.

For example, when he – surprisingly clearly – supported the plans of his Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), who wants to compensate for the cold progression in the tax rate.

Grumbling in the SPD and Greens?

Scholz: "Finance Minister Scholz compensated for the cold progression twice himself." And then after an artistic break: "So the idea can't be that bad".

laughter in the hall.

Chancellor Scholz answers questions – and jumps to the side of his finance minister

It was a largely sovereign appearance that the Chancellor – without a tie, by the way – put down.

Scholz repeated his now legendary sentence: "You'll never walk alone".

The SPD politician spoke of a “difficult time”.

His government is planning further aid - and "tax relief measures are part of it," said Scholz.

The Finance Minister's ideas are "very, very helpful".

The FDP will be happy.

Scholz also supported the position of the liberals in other areas: the chancellor - unlike some in the SPD and Greens - did not question compliance with the debt brake next year.

Crisis mood in the traffic light?

Scholz was the moderator and spoke of the coalition's "community services".

The three parties are different.

One could also say: The traffic light is an alliance of convenience.

In front of the capital's press, Scholz picked up a key slogan of his election campaign: respect.

When it comes to relief, his focus is on lower and middle incomes, said the SPD politician.

Scholz emphasized the planned increase in the minimum wage to 12 euros on October 1st, as well as the “massive expansion” of housing benefit.

Individual measures must be seen as part of an overall package.

For Scholz, this also includes the citizen money planned by the traffic light, which is intended to replace Hartz IV.

The SPD and the Greens would like to significantly increase the benefits, which the FDP blocks.

And the chancellor?

remained vague.

"In the end, the height will be decided," said Scholz.

Gas crisis: Olaf Scholz advertises a pipeline through Europe

One thing is clear: In view of rising energy prices, the country could face a “hot autumn”.

Scholz was asked whether he feared social unrest.

No, he doesn't think so.

In Germany there is a strong welfare state.

"We don't leave anyone alone, and in the crisis we hook each other up," said Scholz.

In view of reduced energy supplies from Russia, the chancellor promoted a lesser-known project: a gas pipeline that runs from Portugal to Central Europe.

"It would now make a massive contribution to relieving and easing the supply situation," said the Chancellor.

At European level, he "promoted a lot that we tackle such a project," said Scholz.

The Chancellor was clear in his statements, speaking calmly and slowly for the most part.

Scholz tried to avoid tight-lipped answers.

Only on one issue did the head of government seem anything but sovereign.

When it came to his role as mayor in the affair about tax tricks ("Cum-Ex") at Hamburger Bank Walburg, Scholz said: nothing.

The chancellor has to answer questions in the committee of inquiry in the Hanseatic city next week.

The date is explosive.

His language in front of the capital's press: The case has been under investigation for two and a half years.

Nothing was found.

How tense Scholz is becomes apparent when a journalist asks him directly about his own possible involvement – ​​the head of the Warburg Bank is said to have been allowed to withhold tax money after meeting Scholz.

"You would not be able to substantiate this factual claim if you had to," Scholz hissed.

And afterwards: "Consider that when you say something like that".

A barely veiled threat of lawsuits.

The chancellor acted as the national and international crisis manager for the Berlin journalists.

Only in the case of crisis communication on our own behalf was there not much to see.

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Political connoisseur Albrecht von Lucke praises Scholz's appearance "I found him surprisingly strong"

And yet: the bottom line is a combative appearance - which is also the view of observers of the political establishment.

"Olaf Scholz went on the offensive rhetorically," said the political scientist and author ("Blätter für deutsche und Internationale Politik") Albrecht von Lucke in an interview with

Merkur.de from IPPEN.MEDIA

.

"It was an attempt at a fresh start after a weak start," said the politician.

The chancellor underlined his claim to leadership in front of the press – and he succeeded in outlining the long lines of his policy.

On the one hand, Scholz loyally supported his finance minister, but on the other hand he also emphasized the core social democratic concern of justice.



In the duel with Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, Scholz made up ground in terms of communication, says von Lucke.

"For the chancellor, it was about regaining the sovereignty of interpretation," says the expert.

While Scholz was often taciturn in the past, today – at least by his standards – he was downright talkative, sometimes even self-ironic and clear.

"I found him surprisingly strong," said von Lucke.

About IPPEN.MEDIA

The IPPEN.MEDIA network is one of the largest online publishers in Germany.

At the locations in Berlin, Hamburg/Bremen, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart and Vienna, journalists from our central editorial office research and publish for more than 50 news offers.

These include brands such as Merkur.de, FR.de and BuzzFeed Germany.

Our news, interviews, analyzes and comments reach more than 5 million people in Germany every day.

Another interesting aspect on this day: The topic of Corona played (almost) no role in the almost two hours.

At the end of the press conference, Scholz was asked whether he sometimes missed Angela Merkel given the multitude of crises.

The Chancellor smiled.

He likes to call his predecessor, said Scholz.

But now he would also like to be chancellor.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-08-12

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