After Friedrich Merz talks about Greta Thunberg, Kevin Kühnert mockingly responds on Twitter: "Thank you, dad." And he gets even braver.
- Friedrich Merz (CDU) attacks climate activist Greta Thunberg.
- Kevin Kühnert, chairman of the Jusos (SPD) describes the speech as "old-fashioned chatter".
- The point of contention: Do today's youth have incomparable privileges?
Verden - Friedrich Merz is pouring oil into the fire of the climate debate: he is targeting Greta Thunberg and the young generation who are behind the climate protection movement . "Where she is wrong, you have to contradict her clearly and unequivocally," he says and then makes a statement that annoys others: "If Greta Thunberg claims that she was cheated of her youth, I say: This generation has it had the best youth ever for anyone on this continent. "
Applause comes from around 1,000 participants in the CDU's SME association in the town hall in Verden near Bremen: Many are probably thinking of war and post-war generations. Not so the head of the Jusos and deputy chairman of the SPD , Kevin Kühnert : he reacts mockingly and angrily in a tweet.
Friedrich Merz (CDU) and his attack on Greta Thunberg: Kevin Kühnert (SPD) is angry
With a view to the generational conflict that Merz sparked in his speech, Kühnert initially reacted succinctly: "Thank you, dad" is his short answer on Twitter. An ironic “thank you” to the older generation, who may see themselves as paving the way for the supposed prosperity of today's youth, which also includes Greta Thunberg *.
When #Greta Thunberg claims that she was cheated of her youth, I say: This generation has had the best youth that has ever been in #Europe. (tm) #Merzrede https://t.co/uNlICvjSXg
- Friedrich Merz (@_FriedrichMerz) February 5, 2020 In his next tweet, Kühnert makes it clear that he does not consider young people privileged: "It is just old-fashioned chatter, just wrong." Not only with regard to the climate, young people are worse off than previous generations *, but also when one looks at economic prosperity . The majority of young people will earn less than the parent generation - according to an article in the Stern about a study in the United States, which Kuehnert cites as evidence. The reason: SMEs are dwindling, the gap between rich and poor is widening.
As this video shows, Merz did not say the same words about Greta Thunberg for the first time:
Unlike then, he added in Verden: "We have to do something to keep it that way."
Friedrich Merz on Greta Thunberg's movement: You lose all authority
When asked how to get young people into politics , Merz suggests that one should seek constructive arguments. The young generation had to run for parliaments and actively shape their own demands in politics. One can also be convinced by the other side by contradiction, says Merz. But it also becomes clear who Merz wants to see as the leading figure in the debate. He seems to think little of an equal exchange when he says about the young generation: "Whoever constantly agrees with them loses all respect and authority." Something that the youth movement around Greta Thunberg should not encourage, go to the To set up debate tables.
* Merkur.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editors network.
kat