Annalena Baerbock resumes the election campaign - with a detailed explanation of her plagiarism problem.
In the dispute over flood protection, she chooses almost unorthodox methods.
Berlin - Annalena Baerbock went on summer vacation at the beginning of July as a scandalous, badly battered candidate for Chancellor - now the Greens has returned to the scene: with a visit to the flood crisis area without any media support, with a substantive attack on the CSU's climate policy. And with clarifications on her book and the copy-and-paste finds in the work.
It is completely open whether the Greens can successfully restart the election campaign.
The chances do not seem to be bad, however: Co-boss Robert Habeck delivered rather positive pictures on a promotional tour in northern Germany.
And in Baerbock's absence, CDU competitor Armin Laschet has come under fire for his disaster management.
Noticeable here: the Green boss almost demonstratively refrained from personal attacks on her opponent Laschet after her return.
Annalena Baerbock: Green candidate back from vacation - substantive instead of personal allegations for Laschet
In an interview with
Der Spiegel
on Monday, Baerbock instead spread her climate and disaster control demands - as in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”, where she criticized CSU boss Markus Söder.
For "ready-made answers" to possible mistakes in dealing with the flood it was too early, she told the news magazine.
For some time now, however, it has been becoming apparent: “We have to reorganize disaster control, and the federal government must take on more responsibility for this.” At the same time, Germany is not prepared enough for extreme climatic weather, and local climate adaptation measures are “underfunded”.
Specifically, Annalena Baerbock also called for “finally a strict construction ban in flood risk areas”.
"The CDU would only have to give up its resistance to it," she emphasized.
Flood in Germany: Baerbock surprises with a trip without the media - no reproaches to Söder and Laschet
The Greens explicitly did not explain the waiver of media support on their trip to the crisis area of Rhineland-Palatinate with a fear of mistakes, as Laschet had made during an appearance with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“It was about being able to really listen and also to be able to comfort.
It makes a difference whether the cameras are running or not, ”she explained.
In order to understand how to arm oneself better, it takes “time and more rest than press appointments offer”.
However, Baerbock did not criticize the fact that Laschet and Söder - as well as SPD candidate Olaf Scholz - traveled with television teams through the crisis areas.
As heads of state governments, the two conservatives simply have a different role.
Baerbock is the only candidate for chancellor without a government post.
In the video: Baerbock's emotional response to the flood disaster
Baerbock explains the background to the plagiarism affair: "I lacked the sources for the notes"
With a view to their plagiarism affair, Baerbock exercised self-criticism. “I nibble hardest at the mistakes I've made myself,” she explained. The debate had overshadowed the important political questions. For the first time, the Greens' candidate for Chancellor also provided a concrete explanation for the much-discussed passages copied from other sources: Her approach to collecting information was counterproductive when writing the book.
“It is important to me to listen to politics and take up good ideas.
That's why I write down a lot of conversations and read a lot in order to make good political decisions, ”Baerbock reported to
Spiegel
.
A book with good craftsmanship could not be created in this way, "because the sources for the notes used were missing".
"That was my mistake," she added.
In addition, she used publicly available information in several places to ensure correct facts.
The new edition of the book should therefore now receive a list of sources.
Baerbock does not want an exchange with Habeck - Green Chancellor candidate against "running away"
Baerbock campaigned for trust in her person, "because I do not ignore the mistakes, but stand self-critically". She was also not annoyed by the critical words of her co-chairman Habeck: "A strong togetherness is not characterized by the fact that one talks about things, but that one speaks honestly with and about one another," she emphasized. She again ruled out a change in personnel in the fight for chancellor. Responsibility does not mean “running away when things get uncomfortable, but rather doing it better in the future”.
The Greens went into the election campaign with the declared aim of conducting a substantive discussion rather than a personal one - in the past few weeks, however, this resolution seemed to crumble. The severe storms in Germany could be of benefit to the party after the first damage dealt with, as Munich Merkur commented, among other things. However, further mistakes should be avoided: Baerbock's office only had to register honorary positions for the candidate for chancellor on Friday. (
fn
)
