After the mask affair, Cem Özdemir takes the CSU and CDU to court.
The Union always attracts attention with such things, he remarks in an interview.
We spoke to the Green * politician Cem Özdemir about the Union's mask affair
Mr. Özdemir, how many lucrative mask deals have you managed to get?
Özdemir: Not a single one.
I don't think you'll find anything with us either.
That seems to me to be a structural problem of the Union faction, which comes up again and again with such things.
Do you see the Union's genuine desire to educate Nüßlein and Löbel?
Özdemir: Apparently there was hope in the Union that the next sow would soon be chased through the village and that no one would talk about these cases anymore.
However, it is not just a matter of someone resigning from their mandate, but of fundamental questions of transparency.
A lot has to happen now.
There is a code of conduct for the Union Group in the room.
Is that enough?
Özdemir: The Union is pretending that the subject is new.
That may apply to mask deals.
For years, the Union has blocked any kind of legislative change for more transparency in secondary income *.
We finally need a binding, statutory lobby register, stricter publication requirements for secondary activities, a legislative footprint in the legislative process and stricter rules for party funding and sponsorship.
If the CDU * / CSU * take part, a code of conduct is superfluous.
Can you rule out the possibility of a Nüßlein case in your group?
Özdemir: I don't think it's very likely.
Incidentally, it is not reprehensible to arrange contact with a ministry for a company from the constituency.
That too is the job of a member of parliament.
It becomes problematic when you gain an advantage with it.
If you don't know, you've got the wrong job.
After their bonus miles affair in 2002 they quickly took the consequences, Nüßlein is reluctant.
How do you personally like that?
Özdemir: At that time I did not separate private and business miles.
That was a mistake.
I then renounced my mandate without being asked.
If I screw something up, then I'll be responsible for it.
On Sunday there will be elections in Baden-Württemberg *, Winfried Kretschmann should easily win.
Can there be green and black again after the mask affairs?
Özdemir: The choice is not a “mowed weasle”.
We governed very well with the SPD before the CDU and had to make a new decision after the last election because there was no longer a majority due to the SPD election results and the FDP once again didn't want to.
Apart from the numbers, we have to see with whom it fits in terms of content.
For us, climate protection, the ecological restructuring of our economy and social cohesion are the most important issues that we want to advance in the state.
The traffic light from the Greens, SPD and FDP is being traded high.
A good model for the federal government too?
Özdemir: I think the days of models are over.
Democratic parties must be able to talk to one another; they are not enemies, but political competitors.
For me, the CDU / CSU are just as much a part of it as the SPD, FDP and parts of the Left Party.
The new left leader recently embarrassed herself with her ignorance of those Bundeswehr missions * that she wants to end.
Is someone like that capable of forming a coalition?
Özdemir: Germany must not practice isolationism.
The question is whether the left is ready to talk about every single mission free of ideology.
If she says: ideology is above saving human lives, then we do not come together.
That seems to be the case at the moment.
In any case, the left leads the club of naive dictator friends.
We are just hearing again how vehemently Vladimir Putin is trying to influence the public mood in Germany.
You have to be very careful when choosing your friends.
It would be very surprising if the Greens put up Robert Habeck as candidate for Chancellor instead of Annalena Baerbock *, wouldn't it?
Özdemir: (laughs) Nice try.
Let's be surprised.
The interview was conducted by Marcus Mäckler.
* Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
