Read the video transcript here
A few steps with Joschka Fischer on the border with Poland: Annalena Baerbock in Frankfurt an der Oder with probably the most famous Green politician.
In the eastern German states, the Greens are weak and need votes.
But the appointment with the ex-foreign minister is overshadowed by the new big issue in the federal election campaign: the disaster in Afghanistan.
Annalena Baerbock, Chancellor candidate Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen
»It's about hours, it's about days.
And the news that now reaches you that the Foreign Office has actually been warned for weeks that there will be dramatic situations, that the embassy staff and local staff will have to be evacuated and nothing has been done - that shows how fatal it was that the Federal Government, the Foreign Office, turned a blind eye to reality. "
In June the Greens submitted an application to the Bundestag to accept local Afghan workers.
Union and SPD voted against.
After Kabul was taken over by the radical Islamic Taliban, the federal government now wants to evacuate local workers by airlift - and the election campaign has a new political debate.
Martin Knobbe, DER SPIEGEL
»The big question is, of course, what is happening in Afghanistan and how big will the refugee movement be.
And that could be a topic that is of course important to the Greens on the one hand, but is also extremely dangerous on the other, because you fear situations like 2015.
How the Greens position themselves there will be very exciting. "
On the podium with Joschka Fischer, Baerbock called for refugees from Afghanistan to be accepted quickly - without waiting for an EU-wide agreement.
Annalena Baerbock, Chancellor candidate Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen
“You could join forces with those who want to lead the way.
And I see that as the big task now when it comes to the question of a further integration step.
Those countries that want to say, as was possible with the euro, as it was possible with Schengen: We are coordinating a common European refugee policy. "
Her guest supplemented Baerbock's political proposals with his memories.
Because Joschka Fischer was Foreign Minister when the Afghanistan intervention began 20 years ago.
Joschka Fischer, former Foreign Minister
»To remind you again why is NATO in Afghanistan?
Because on September 11, 2001, Islamist terrorists from Al-Qaeda in New York brought down the twin towers by chasing planes full of passengers into them, suicide bombers.
And that was the reason for solidarity with the most important partner, with the most important transatlantic partner, the USA. "
Fischer was the perfect campaign companion for Chancellor candidate Baerbock on that day.
In fact.
Martin Knobbe, DER SPIEGEL
»I think the appearance with Joschka Fischer had advantages and disadvantages.
You also noticed it.
As soon as Joschka Fischer speaks, he is also the historical heavyweight in the statements, and he was also more emotional and, based on his experience, was able to go much further and describe the more fundamental line.
There is a certain risk that your statements will appear a bit more banal and superficial. "
Belarus, the climate crisis, the future of the European Union - that was also what the Kleist Forum in Frankfurt an der Oder was about.
Baerbock gave a lecture, explained, and had all the facts ready.
And yet she could not convince everyone in the hall.
Visitor
»When it came to questions of climate policy, I found her to be very authentic and very knowledgeable and well arguing.
In the other areas it seemed rather superficial to me.
That sounded partly like learned.
That didn't convince me. "
Visitor
»Annalena Baerbock's statement on the subject of Afghanistan was actually the statement that fascinated me most about today's conversation.
I can only say that I fully agree with her as to the severity with which she assessed the situation. "
Visitor
»Will Mrs. Baerbock make it to the Chancellery?
I don't know if she can do it.
I'm a bit skeptical about that.
Why?
Well, I think they are very competent, but among the majority of the population it is sometimes the case that they prioritize the negative headlines. "
But since the discussion about the situation in Afghanistan at the latest, Baerbock's blunders are likely to have moved into the background - and the content determines the election campaign.
Less than six weeks before the general election, the Greens have the chance to save what can still be saved.
Martin Knobbe, DER SPIEGEL
»Of course the Greens are now trying to maintain their position in second place, which is precisely the result of the SPD's success.
I think that in these steps the party now thinks that it is saying: We definitely don't want to fall back to the 8 percent, we want to use the momentum that we once had.
But it is undeniable that the mistakes that have happened have caused huge damage that is 100 percent irreparable. "
Especially in East Germany, the Greens would have to score.
The crisis in Afghanistan and a new debate about refugees didn't make it any easier.
