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In the last speech by the Chancellor, Merkel went on the attack and was outraged - "My goodness, what an excitement!"

2021-09-08T03:17:54.725Z


There is a lot going on in the Bundestag: In a general debate, the accounts are settled - with the Chancellor and all three candidates for Chancellor. Angela Merkel was aggressive.


There is a lot going on in the Bundestag: In a general debate, the accounts are settled - with the Chancellor and all three candidates for Chancellor.

Angela Merkel was aggressive.

  • The Bundestag met on Tuesday (September 7th) for its last session in the current legislature.

  • A general debate on the “Situation in Germany” was on the agenda.

    In addition to Chancellor Angela Merkel *, her successor candidates Olaf Scholz * (

    update from 9.55 a.m.

    ), Armin Laschet * and Annalena Baerbock *

    spoke

    .

  • The meeting started turbulent: To the annoyance of the opposition, the GroKo rejected a debate on Afghanistan (

    update from 9:12 a.m.

    ).

    Merkel switched to her last

    speech

    in the Bundestag as Chancellor in attack

    mode

    (

    update from 9.39 a.m.

    ).

Update from September 7th, 12 noon:

Armin Laschet finished his speech after more than half an hour;

This means that all parliamentary groups have had their say - and all candidates for chancellor.

The bottom line:

The explosiveness of the general debate was palpable shortly before the general election.

Numerous heckling, cheering and applause, direct skirmishes between the prominent speakers: Such lively arguments are not to be experienced every day in the German parliament.

In terms of content, however, there were hardly any surprises: the opposition parliamentary groups used their speaking time to settle accounts with the Merkel government, the Chancellor defended the policy of her term in office - the three candidates Scholz, Baerbock and Laschet presented the election programs and key concerns of their campaigns in the shop window. SPD man Scholz relied on the buzzwords "respect" and "cohesion", Baerbock on the demand for a clear policy change, Laschet put a positive balance of the Merkel era and the Union as protection against fears in terms of tax increases, internal security and industrial Churn out.

In view of this, marginal notes should be kept in mind: Baerbock and Laschet got into a direct battle

of words on

the issue of the coal exit (

update from 11.40 a.m.

), and the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor also insisted in their short successive speeches (

updates from 9.55 a.m. and 9.28 a.m.

).

In any case, there was an unusually aggressive chancellor in the Bundestag - which the opposition received with indignation.

+

Annalena Baerbock and Armin Laschet got into a battle of words in the general debate in the Bundestag.

© Michael Kappeler / dpa

Update from September 7th, 11.40 am:

Laschet accuses his rival Baerbock of “dishonesty”: The GroKo was the first to set up a coal phase-out commission that “found a social consensus”. The citizens would now have a right to the reliability of politics that Baerbock called elsewhere. The Greens countered with loud shouts from the Union parliamentary group directly on an interim question: The coal compromise had provided for revision points with a view to the climate targets - the Union had canceled that; the consensus was therefore by no means implemented one-to-one.

Laschet gets confused with Baerbock's name for a moment and then goes on to attack: The representation of the Greens does not hit. “If you keep setting new goals, then you also have to build the routes, and mostly it is your parliamentary group that is the first to found a citizens' initiative against the route have to get out of coal energy, adds Laschet. He also emphasizes: It is better to keep industry in Germany than to accept migration to countries with much less rigid climate regulations. However, this cannot be achieved with bans - “business skills” are necessary.

Laschet also puts the issue of internal security on the agenda: "NSU was a state failure and clear rules are needed here".

At the same time, there is fundamentalist terror and clan crime - the Anis Amri case revealed negligence, but it is now possible to arrest those who threatened and expel them from the country, he praises.

"We are a liberal country, but we have zero tolerance."

Laschet straight to Baerbock: Turbulent debate in the Bundestag

Update from September 7, 11:23 a.m.:

Armin Laschet's contribution follows directly after Baerbock's speech. "You are painting pictures here about environmental and climate policy," says the Chancellor candidate to the Greens opponent, but in fact "a lot has been done", "everything you say has little to do with what is going on in these 16 years, ”he praised Angela Merkel's term of office. "When you shout 'truth' I'm always skeptical," Laschet counters an interjection from Christian Lindner.

"If the health authorities work with faxes, then that is a municipal task," says Laschet, the schools are state tasks. “Always pretending that the federal government is to blame” is too easy - the Greens are also responsible in view of their government participation in the federal states. The North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister then quickly switched to foreign policy: climate protection, for example, can only be tackled as a “global task”, and at the same time Europe must stand up for its values ​​in the world.

Laschet also criticizes Scholz.

"You can't walk around with a diamond and talk like Saskia Esken, it just doesn't go together," he repeats an accusation from the first chancellor's triell.

The CDU politician also reiterates his call for the debt brake to be maintained and the warning of tax increases under an SPD-led government.

"The Chancellor deserves our thanks for taking good care of the Social Democrats," he teased.

Baerbock attacks Merkel and Scholz in the Bundestag: "Just ducked away"

Update from September 7th, 11:14 am:

Baerbock indirectly

attributes

a breach of their oath of office to some ministers: "To avert harm to the people means to take precautionary measures," she exclaims. This also applies to the corona situation. It doesn't help to promise that there will be no more lockdown - the appropriate precautions must also be taken. Among other things, Baerbock calls for “a 2G regulation at hotspots” in order to avoid school closings again.

In difficult moments, politicians “just ducked away”, says the Green Chancellor candidate, apparently also with a view to the refusal to give advice on Afghanistan in the morning (

see update from 9:12 a.m.

). Failure to face Parliament shows a lack of respect “for this high house”. But "the most violent" happened in European refugee policy. The federal government was "hiding behind Viktor Orban", judged Baerbock. What is needed is “a Germany that leads in terms of European policy”.

Update from September 7th, 11:02 am:

Now it is the turn of the second candidate for Chancellor on the list of speakers: Annalena Baerbock. It starts with a reference to the lack of time in climate policy. It is actually a "choice of direction", explains the Greens - the question is whether the federal government will still be able to actively influence climate change. She also criticizes disaster control: a few weeks after the flood disaster in Germany, this topic does not play a role in the plenary; Baerbock judges that as "irresponsible".

Campaigning does not mean ignoring people's worries and fears, complains Baerbock. It has been proven that children and young people are concerned about which country they will live in in the future - one cannot say "but our fear of the price of petrol is even greater," she explains. "We need a policy that says 'we're doing this now' instead of staying in the coal for 17 years". The Greens attacked SPD candidate Olaf Scholz: It does not show any respect to make different statements about the desired exit date from coal in Lusatia and with environmental associations. At the same time, the GroKo “screwed up” the entry into climate neutrality despite the bubbling tax revenue - even the industry complained about a lack of planning security and demanded directional decisions.

Bundestag election: Bartsch raises serious allegations against Merkel's government - "Crises not resolved, but managed"

Update from September 7th, 10:50 am:

Left-wing top candidate Dietmar Bartsch also uses the debate for general accounting with the black-red federal government: "Crises are no longer solved, but managed," he calls out at the beginning of his speech.

The left attests to the Merkel government - probably also with a view to the Afghanistan crisis - an “unculture of irresponsibility”.

Bartsch criticizes a split in society, which will deepen in view of the debts to be repaid quickly according to GroKo plans. A better solution would have been a one-off property tax, he says - there was a historical example under Konrad Adenauer. "And he wasn't a leftist," emphasizes Bartsch coolly. Nursing staff or Corona “heroes at the cash register” forget Merkel's government, while corporations received state aid and paid dividends at the same time.

“Achievement must pay off again for the real high performers,” demands Bartsch.

A major pension and tax reform is needed.

“Everyone has to pay into the pension fund,” he explains a little later.

The left has a final swipe for the FDP: "It is better to govern well with the left than badly with Christian Lindner!"

There is self-deprecating applause from Lindner himself.

Merkel and her successor candidates in the Bundestag: FDP boss Lindner settles with Scholz

Update from September 7th, 10:27 am:

FDP leader Christian Lindner addresses Scholz and Merkel directly in his speech: You don't have to win “polls *, but elections”, he taunts the SPD. The Chancellor had served Germany for 16 years - but the state of the country should not meet the requirements. The Liberal is also targeting the GroKo's corona policy: a “short wait” until spring is not acceptable, politics must ensure that social life is also possible in autumn.

Germany actually needs a “decade of modernization”, underlines Lindner in a campaign demand made by Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet (CDU) - but the Union is giving its own government a “sad testimony”. At the same time, however, Lindner also accuses Scholz of “unaffordable dreams”; the state should not constantly expand its field of work. He warns of economic policy failures: "Our country comes out of the crisis worse than our competitors," as the current growth figures show. “In a country with the highest tax rates, you criticized those who want to provide relief,” the FDP leader continues to shoot against Scholz and the SPD.

Lindner is also dissatisfied with climate policy: It is "absurd" that taxpayers subsidize high-income e-cars with up to 20,000 euros over the life of the vehicles.

The automotive industry needs an openness to technology, but no tax gifts.

Instead of small-scale regulations, Germany should better put climate protection through technology on the agenda of the G7 in the coming year.

Before the federal election: Scholz counters Merkel coolly - and relies on "cohesion"

+

Meeting of the Chancellor candidates: Olaf Scholz (left) and Armin Laschet on Tuesday in the Bundestag.

© JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP

Update from September 7th, 10:20 am:

Scholz concludes his extraordinarily long speech with a focus on Europe: Germany cannot stand on the sidelines, make comments in a "bad mood" and explain to his own country what is being planned for Brussels.

Instead, the SPD candidate for chancellor calls for “going ahead”.

Scholz also makes an indirect comment on the debate about a red-green-red alliance: "It has to be that we understand that we are not alone, but that we work together with others to ensure peace and security," says he - a very blatant swipe at the left.

The party's top candidates only reiterated their call for an end to all Bundeswehr missions abroad on Monday.

Update from September 7th, 9.55 a.m.:

The next prominent speaker takes the floor: SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz. He points to successes in combating the economic consequences of the Corona crisis. “We got this far because we stuck together,” he emphasizes - and is friendly in a way that, after Merkel's accusation (

see update from 9.28 a.m.

), sounds almost provocative. He thanked the Federal Government soberly for the solidarity - "also with you, Ms. Chancellor", hoots from the plenary can be heard.

A small tip follows immediately, however: Scholz casually explains that the Union “doesn't have that much to laugh about” in view of its polls.

The SPD politician continued to emphasize that the future challenges could only be met with “solidarity”.

Among other things, Scholz names the fight against child poverty, good education, for example in apprenticeships, and an improvement in the situation for people with lower incomes - for example through a housing offensive and affordable rents - as key points for a future government.

Angela Merkel criticizes Olaf Scholz for his "guinea pig" statement.

His answer follows promptly.

pic.twitter.com/euezBR6iWM

- Report from Berlin (@ARD_BaB) September 7, 2021

He was “excited and outraged” in view of old pension advice - Germany was predicted to have fewer workers in the 90s.

Scholz calls for a rethink: if more women were put in a position to be able to work or older employees could expect a new job, then the pension would be secure, he explains.

A slightly bizarre scene is causing new tumult: AfD MP Beatrix von Storch wants to ask an interim question - to the amusement of the plenary, Scholz initially seems unsure whether he should allow this.

The Vice Chancellor only decides against it after a second request from Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU).

But Scholz gets the last laugh: There are questions that would advance the debate, he teased - and those for which this "foreseeable" will not be the case.

Update from September 7th, 9.47 a.m.:

The next speaker is AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel.

She focuses on the core issue of her group: migration policy.

Among other things, Weidel claims that Merkel's government "abused" local Afghan workers in order to initiate new immigration.

The AfD politician is also harshly criticized in other areas.

The federal government wants to "subsidize" e-mobility, although the supply of raw materials and electricity required for this has not been clarified.

Weidel also calls for an end to "all measures" in the Corona crisis.

With the availability of a vaccination offer, the responsibility passed to "each individual".

Merkel switches to election campaign mode in the Bundestag: outrage follows - "Be ashamed!"

+

Chancellor Merkel becomes clear in the Bundestag.

© via www.imago-images.de

Update from September 7th, 9:39 am:

Merkel is now also switching to election campaign

mode

- in the form of the Union's already known left-slide warnings *: After the federal election there is a threat of an alliance between the SPD and the Greens that "accepts" the participation of the left , says Merkel amid massive heckling from the plenary - or she “at least does not exclude them!” she adds.

“I'm only telling the truth,” she explains in view of the turmoil in the Bundestag.

The cry “you are ashamed!” Can be heard among others from the ranks of the MPs.

"My goodness, what a fuss," says Merkel dryly - and continues to promote the Union: The dispute over whether the left should participate in government is by no means just about NATO and foreign policy.

The CDU and CSU, on the other hand, could "lead Germany into the future with moderation," said the outgoing Chancellor.

Merkel explains the "situation in Germany" - and gives Scholz a hard swipe

Update from September 7th, 9.28 a.m.:

As expected, the GroKo MPs rejected both Afghanistan applications - now Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) speaks in plenary. At the beginning of her speech on the “Situation in Germany”, the outgoing Prime Minister did not have any big surprises in her luggage: She thanked the Bundeswehr soldiers for their work in Afghanistan, emphasized the will to “perseverance” in the reconstruction in the flood disaster areas and defended them their government's climate policy.

The Chancellor also praised the country's innovative strength - for example with reference to effective corona tests and vaccinations from Germany.

She allows herself a hard swipe at her Vice Chancellor: No one was a “guinea pig” during the vaccinations, says Merkel in an unfamiliar resolute tone.

Anyone who wants to convince people of the corona vaccination must do so with arguments and not with "crooked images".

Scholz was recently criticized for talking about "guinea pigs" *.

+

Angela Merkel before what will probably be the last parliamentary debate of her term in office.

© Michael Kappeler / dpa

Merkel and her three successor candidates in the Bundestag - mini scandal even before the start: "Infamous!"

Update from September 7th, 9:12 am:

The

general debate

in the Bundestag with the heavy weight “Situation in Germany” is to begin in around ten minutes. In addition to Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), the three candidates for Chancellor are also expected - Olaf Scholz, Armin Laschet and Annalena Baerbock. So almost literally a round about the situation and future of the nation.

There is already a dispute in advance: the Greens and the FDP have applied to deal with the situation in Afghanistan. Specifically, the parliamentary manager of the Greens, Britta Haßelmann, once again called for a deletion stop for files relating to Afghanistan *, while the liberal Alexander Graf Lambsdorff called for a special EU summit on behalf of his group. Both raised serious allegations against Merkel's federal government: The failure of Afghanistan to stay out of parliament was unworthy of the Bundestag, said Haßelmann. AfD and the left also joined in the criticism.

However, the request after an Afghanistan debate is likely to be unsuccessful: The parliamentary managing director of the Union parliamentary group, Michael Grosse-Brömer, decided coolly that everything could be discussed in the general debate, and that there are already regulations against deleting files.

The SPD also saw the topic adequately dealt with in the general debate and the government declaration around two weeks ago.

The leftist Jan Korte spoke of an "infamous" approach - he emphasized that it was by no means possible to resolve specific motions in the debate and warned of the lack of a moratorium on the topic of Afghanistan in the Ministry of the Interior, among others.

Merkel and her three successor candidates in the Bundestag - hot debate before the election

Preliminary report: Berlin - Less than three weeks before the general election, there is likely to be a weighty exchange of blows between the candidates for chancellor in the Bundestag today.

In the three-hour debate on “the situation in Germany” on Tuesday (from 9 a.m.), the parliamentary groups want to present their positions on current issues.

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), who will not run again in the election, will be the speaker.

This is the 239th plenary session of the legislature.

Last exchange of blows between the parties in the Bundestag before the election

In the presumably last meeting before the federal election * on September 26, it is expected that in addition to the outgoing Chancellor Merkel, CDU boss Laschet, finance minister Scholz and Green leader Baerbock * will answer the microphone.

What are they going to try to score with the voters?

Laschet is under a lot of pressure - the last polls are disastrous for the Union.

But the voters in the Bundestag should also pay attention to other issues: Because several new corona regulations are to be passed and the multi-billion aid fund for the victims of the flood disaster in western Germany in mid-July is to come under one roof. 

Bundestag: last debate before the election

The MPs finally decide on the establishment of a 30 billion euro special fund for reconstruction in the flood areas.

They also vote on the new version of the Infection Protection Act.

According to this, the hospitalization rate or hospitalization incidence should in future be a key benchmark when imposing corona measures.

In addition, employees in daycare centers, schools and nursing homes are to be required to provide information about their corona vaccination status.

Economics Minister Peter Altmaier is probably not there.

The 63-year-old was transported away by the emergency doctor during a meeting.

After initial great concern, he reported on Twitter that morning.

(dpa / AFP) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-09-08

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