After a scandal at Scholz's speech - Baerbock presents foreign policy plans

Created: 01/15/2022, 06:48

By: Florian Naumann, Patrick Mayer

For the first time, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his traffic light coalition are taking part in a government survey in the Bundestag.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is also in focus.

• Bundestag debate on traffic light plans:

  Olaf Scholz (SPD) is the first chancellor to take part in a government survey in parliament - including on the subject of compulsory vaccination.

• Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) has to put up with a violent attack by an AfD politician (

  see

  update from 5:57 p.m.

  ).

• The session on the government survey in the Bundestag begins with a small scandal (

  see

  update from 1:21 p.m.

  ).

• This

  news ticker on the traffic light survey

  in Parliament has ended.

Update from January 12, 12:15 p.m .:

Also on Thursday, the Bundestag debates the plans of the traffic light ministries – we will keep you in a news ticker about the appearances of Robert Habeck (Greens), Karl Lauterbach (SPD) and other ministers Up to date.

Update from January 12, 6:55 p.m.:

Update from January 12, 6:50 p.m .:

The last Federal Minister to speak at the government survey in the Bundestag was Environment Minister Steffi Lemke.

She wanted to use an action program to strengthen natural forests and moors, explained the Green politician and also called for a focus on species extinction.

"It's about our livelihoods - water, air to breathe, food," she said.

Up to a million species are threatened with extinction, Lemke said: “They will be missed, and first and foremost we will.

It's about our livelihoods - water, air to breathe, food.”

Government survey in the Bundestag: Annalena Baerbock (Greens) plans "feminist foreign policy"

Update from January 12, 6:30 p.m.:

Summarizing again the speech of the Federal Foreign Minister: Annalena Baerbock (Greens) announced that German foreign policy would be more strongly geared towards feminist goals. Baerbock said her ministry would develop a “strategy for a feminist foreign policy” on Wednesday in the German Bundestag in Berlin: “Some people find it difficult to pronounce the term. But actually it's very simple: It's about representation, it's about rights, and it's about resources.”

It can currently be seen worldwide "that the dismantling of the rights of girls and women is a yardstick for the strengthening of authoritarian forces," said Baerbock. "That applies in a very special and terrible way to Afghanistan." For German foreign policy, it must be clear: "If half the population is not equally involved, represented or paid, democracies are not perfect."

Update from January 12, 6:02 p.m .:

Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (FDP) does not let the AfD announcement sit down and associates the party with the medium Russia Today in his speech.

His allegation is that the AfD is allegedly representing Russian interests in the Bundestag.

He then warns of the "massive" Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine and sharply attacks the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko.

Government survey in the Bundestag: Violent attack by AfD man on Annalena Baerbock (Greens)

Update from January 12, 5:57 p.m .: It

is the turn of Petr Bystron, foreign policy spokesman for the AfD parliamentary group. He violently attacks Annalena Baerbock, asks the FDP and specifically its foreign policy expert Alexander Graf Lambsdorff directly, "how could you allow that?" Baerbock's appointment as foreign minister is meant. "German foreign policy has always been shaped by great statesmen," says Bystron, clearly emphasizing "statesmen". On top of that. The AfD MP lists former male top politicians like Willy Brandt (SPD).

He also accuses Baerbock of an alleged confrontation with Russia by wanting to prevent Nord Stream 2.

"They go into confrontation with this country, it doesn't work that way," says the politician from Bavaria.

Four out of ten German cars were exported to China, he says and says: "What interests do you actually represent, Ms. Baerbock?

Those of German industry are not.” Finally, he calls the former Greens Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer a “warmonger”, presumably with a view to the former Kosovo mission of the German armed forces.

Government survey in the Bundestag: Annalena Baerbock (Greens) wants "Action Plan for Afghanistan"

Update from January 12, 5:52 p.m .:

The SPD foreign politician Nils Schmid calls for not always looking at China – and at the end of his speech he does it himself. “I am very concerned about the arms race in East Asia,” explains the social democrat. In her speech to Parliament, Baerbock focused more on climate policy aspects and less on security policy.

Update from January 12, 5:39 p.m.:

One of their first measures was to “launch an action plan for Afghanistan,” says Foreign Minister Baerbock, calling for a “new humanitarian admission program” for those in need of protection from Afghanistan, especially for women and girls. “We are experiencing an absolute humanitarian catastrophe these days. That's why we have to do everything we can to increase humanitarian aid," explains Baerbock. "This requires cooperation here in this high House," says the Green politician.

Regarding the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Baerbock said that the federal government had reacted clearly to the provocation of the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine.

"The sovereignty of Ukraine and the immovability of borders in Europe are non-negotiable for us," she affirmed. 

We make climate policy our priority.

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (The Greens)

Government survey in the Bundestag: Annalena Baerbock (Greens) focuses on climate policy

Update from January 12, 5:36 p.m.:

“We are making climate policy our priority,” explains Baerbock about the new federal government and says that this also applies to foreign policy.

"We will increasingly expand climate and energy partnerships," she says, "and tackle climate protection together with our partners around the world."

Update from January 12, 5:33 p.m .:

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (The Greens) speaks in the plenary hall of the Bundestag.

Among other things, she is concerned with supporting the "strategic dialogue between the USA and Russia," she says.

Germany finds itself in "a world with growing geopolitical tensions" and there is "competition between authoritarian forces and liberal democracies".

Germany cannot “without the European Union”.

Speech in the Bundestag: Annalena Baerbock from the Greens.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Government survey in the Bundestag: Violent attack by CDU politicians on AfD MPs

Update from January 12, 5:10 p.m .:

Drastic words in Parliament: Union MP Detlef Seif described AfD MP Gottfried Curio in the Bundestag as a mental arsonist. "You are a communicative stabber and terrorist," said the CDU politician from North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday during a plenary debate on migration and internal security. He added: "I don't know if you realize that what you are throwing into the country is producing a toxic climate. They set fire to what others later do with knives and guns.”

The Union politician then had to take criticism from Bundestag Vice President Petra Pau for his verbal attack.

She urged him "to be moderate when it comes to labeling or characterizing other MPs - that is, to adopt a parliamentary language".

Government survey in the Bundestag: Marco Buschmann (FDP) wants to abolish paragraph 219a

Update from January 12, 4:40 p.m .:

In the Bundestag, it was just the turn of Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) for the government survey. He confirmed that the traffic light federal government made up of SPD, Greens and Liberals wants to delete the legally controversial regulation on data retention. “We will strengthen civil rights and thus ensure a new balance between security and freedom. This applies, for example, to data retention, a million-fold intervention in informational self-determination," said the 44-year-old, who comes from Gelsenkirchen, in Parliament: "We have an absurd situation here today. Data retention is formally enshrined in law, but courts have stopped it. Therefore, it is rarely used.”

"Section 219a will fall," he continued.

Section 219a of the Criminal Code prohibits the advertising of abortions.

Buschmann demanded that women in difficult life situations should be able to obtain factual information.

Paragraph 219a will fall.

Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP)

Government survey in the Bundestag: Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) criticizes corona walks

Update from January 12, 3:17 p.m.:

After the chancellor, Nancy Faeser (SPD) was the first minister to speak - the interior minister kicked off a two-and-a-half-day debate about the areas of responsibility of all traffic light departments. "Our society is not divided and we will not let ourselves be divided either," she emphasized with a view to the Corona crisis, but at the same time warned of "cracks in our society": "Anyone who attacks or intimidates scientists, journalists, police officers or politicians no longer leads discussions, we don't see any 'walks', but organized actions in many places at the same time, again and again with violence, again and again with mass violations of Corona rules, right-wing extremists are unfortunately gaining increasing regional influence," said Faeser. The perpetrators would have to expect "consistent criminal prosecution".

The interior minister expressly thanked the “overwhelming majority” of the population, who were showing solidarity in the Corona crisis, but also the police officers who were “taking the blame”.

Faeser made it clear that protest was legitimate.

"Set yourself apart," she demanded of demonstrators.

Scholz survives the first chancellor's survey - a different constellation than in Merkel's time makes it easy for him

Update from January 12, 2:42 p.m .:

Olaf Scholz has completed his first government survey in the Bundestag without an accident – ​​the new chancellor received a very colorful range of topics from the plenum, but had a suitable answer ready for most questions. In style and rhetoric, the appearance hardly differed from that of the predecessor Angela Merkel (CDU). Scholz spoke calmly, almost monotonously and, at best, accused questioners of misrepresentations in a sober tone.

The meeting did not offer any major news in terms of content. However, Scholz announced concrete proposals for a corona bonus by the end of January, did not rule out a “points system” based on the Canadian model as a “supplement” for labor migration and spoke quite specifically in favor of general vaccination requirements for all adults in Germany. The Chancellor has repeatedly defended the plan to have the Bundestag vote openly and without party pressure on such a duty. Scholz also vehemently campaigned for quick booster vaccinations.

The new constellation in the Bundestag also took some pressure off Scholz: while Merkel still had to deal with critical questions from four opposition factions, Scholz only had to deal with three;

CDU/CSU, AfD and Linke - the traffic light factions unsurprisingly limited themselves to presentations of the coalition plans.

The AfD parliamentary group caused a small scandal at the beginning of the meeting: They held up signs that read “Freedom instead of division”, a political action prohibited under the Bundestag’s rules of procedure.

Bundestag President Bärbel Bas had to interrupt Scholz during his first words and threatened to be expelled from the room and fined.

It didn't get that far, of course, and the MPs quickly made the signs disappear.

Chancellor survey in the Bundestag: Scholz coolly counters the AfD allegation – “This is incorrect information”

Update from January 12, 2:37 p.m .:

Bundestag Vice President Petra Pau (left) – who has meanwhile taken over from Bas – ends the round.

"Thank you very much", are Scholz' last words.

Update from January 12, 2:32 p.m .:

For the AfD, Michael Espendiller wants to get back to the topic of energy prices – and also inquires whether the traffic light wants to withdraw the supplementary budget that the opposition has criticized as unconstitutional.

As expected, Scholz defends the plans of Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).

When it comes to energy prices, the chancellor refers to other plans - the traffic light wants to grant housing benefit recipients a heating cost subsidy.

In his inquiry, Espendiller accused the government of being responsible for the fact that “people can no longer afford a normal life” with the EEG, coal and nuclear phase-out. "No, that's incorrect information that you put in your question," counters Scholz coolly. The best way to become independent of price developments is to rely on renewable energy production in Germany - that will also be the cheaper way in the end.

Update from January 12, 2:26 p.m .:

The Liberal Ann-Veruschka Jurisch gives Scholz another opportunity to present the government program – she wants to know how the traffic light wants to get more workers into the German labor market.

Your question: Will a points system based on the Canadian model play a role in immigration?

Remarkably, Scholz dodges something and refers to the EU labor market.

But he also wants to create an opportunity for "talents" from third countries who do not yet have an employment contract - a point system could play a role here, but not as a substitute, but as a supplement.

Scholz in the first chancellor survey: 30 million booster vaccinations - "How do you want to achieve that?"

Update from January 12, 2:21 p.m .:

The CDU parliamentarian Sepp Müller points to a statement by Scholz after the Corona summit: The Chancellor had promised 30 million more booster vaccinations by the end of January – “how do you want to achieve that?” , asks Mueller. Scholz emphasizes that the Christmas and school holidays have slowed down efforts. Now, however, another effort is necessary; the federal government had done what could be done. "It makes a difference whether you get vaccinated in March or now," explains Scholz.

Update from January 12, 2:16 p.m .:

After a question from the Green Group, the left Pascal Meiser takes the floor.

He is concerned with the Corona care bonus - which should only benefit a (too) small group of recipients, as Meiser judges.

Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil (SPD) is working on the topic, says Scholz - a proposal will be available at the end of the month.

"There are many questions of justice that need to be answered at the same time," the Chancellor conceded.

It is therefore also correct that the topic was not dealt with quickly before Christmas.

There has not yet been a decision about the group of recipients, so Scholz lets it be known.

Bundestag: Scholz in first government survey - Chancellor defends Stiko and corona vaccination

Update from January 12, 2:07 p.m .:

AfD MP Martin Sichert wants to know numbers about serious vaccination side effects.

Scholz thanks you for the question, "but not for the intention behind it".

“You confuse the citizens of this country.

The only good thing about it is that they don't succeed with it," added the Chancellor.

Billions of people around the world have been successfully vaccinated - and the vaccination protects many people who are particularly at risk.

"Everyone knows that there can also be side effects, we've always been informed about that," Stiko makes responsible decisions and "sometimes make much more careful decisions" than anywhere else in the world, says Scholz at the insistence of Sichert.

If the Stiko gives the green light, you can be sure: "It's the right thing to do".

Update from January 12, 2:00 p.m .:

The CDU is once again targeting Scholz’s role in the struggle for compulsory vaccination: The Chancellor spoke in the plenum as a “private person”, complained MP Günter Krings – but the government survey was about the position the federal government.

At the same time, he inquired whether the decision on a job-related vaccination requirement was really less important.

Scholz once again defends the procedure, saying it is "appropriate for the matter" - and specifies his position: He is in favor of compulsory vaccination for "all over 18-year-olds".

Scholz in the government survey: Leftists reprimand mini-job plans - Bas undermines faux pas

Update from January 12, 1:50 p.m .:

A critical question comes from the left-wing MP Susanne Ferschl: She reprimands plans for the expansion of mini-jobs – “we don’t want to expand them, you said that wrong,” Scholz replies. Rather, the traffic light wants to make jobs subject to social security contributions more attractive.

Ferschl is dissatisfied with the answer. The left criticizes that if you make the additional earnings limit for mini jobs dynamic, you expand this area. Scholz disagrees again: "Sometimes you have to look at statistics and not a leaflet," he scoffs. A little smile on the side: Bas wants to give the floor to the next questioner and initially forgets Ferschl's right to ask - when called, the President of the Bundestag is startled, and a small curse apparently escapes her: "Ah, fuck..." Bas seems to murmur into the microphone ; but it could also have been a somewhat lengthy search for Ferschl's name.

Update from January 12, 1:47 p.m .:

A first finding from Scholz’s first government survey: The new composition of the Bundestag with three government and three opposition groups creates a different, somewhat tamer dynamic.

On behalf of the Greens, MP Katrin Uhlig asked about the importance of expanding renewable energies in general and for industry in particular.

Of course, that too was a template for Scholz: "Now we have to do it," says the Chancellor, with a view to expanding energy production from renewable sources.

It is also about "the global competitiveness of our country".

Corona topic at Scholz' first government survey - AfD calls for "exit strategy"

Update from January 12, 1:41 p.m

.: AfD boss Tino Chrupalla inquires about relief for citizens in the energy price crisis, among other things – and for an “exit strategy” from the Corona crisis.

Scholz first answers question two: the current corona measures are helpful, but vaccination also helps.

"Clearly, this is a global problem," says the chancellor, referring to rising energy prices.

"We want to abolish the EEG surcharge by the beginning of next year at the latest," he explains.

That will save every family around 300 euros.

Like all questioners, Chrupalla has a demand.

He addresses the EU "taxonomy" and wants to hear from Scholz's arguments against nuclear power.

"The use of nuclear energy is not sustainable and it also does not make economic sense," says Scholz to applause from the government factions.

Germany has set out to expand renewable energy.

Update from January 12, 1:39 p.m .:

The SPD MP Bernd Westphal inquires about Scholz’s plans for the G7 presidency – for the Chancellor, of course, a welcome opportunity to once again present the traffic light government’s climate protection plans.

Corona vaccination requirement: Scholz defends plans without a traffic light suggestion - time for "democratic leadership"?

Update from January 12, 1:31 p.m

.: The parliamentary manager of the Union, Thorsten Frei, is the first to speak to Scholz: He misses clear proposals from the traffic light government on how mandatory vaccination can be implemented in a constitutional manner - Scholz is not able to to answer important questions about his intention.

Scholz points to a different plan: he thinks it is right for the proposed solutions to come from the Bundestag, explains the Chancellor.

Of course, the federal government supports the work of the parliamentarians.

Frei digs deeper: The job-related vaccination requirement was not decided in an open vote, he complains.

Scholz emphasizes that a general obligation to vaccinate is a much more far-reaching step - it is the right time for "democratic leadership".

Update from January 12, 1:25 p.m .:

Now the chancellor has the floor – with a delay of around 20 minutes.

In his speech, Olaf Scholz defended the pandemic measures taken by the federal and state governments.

He will “actively” campaign for compulsory vaccination, he emphasizes once again.

Scholz points to side effects of the heavy load on the intensive care units, such as postponed operations.

"You don't make a decision just for yourself," says the Chancellor.

That is why vaccination is important.

Scholz then looks abroad: Europe has "lost a certainty" on the Ukrainian-Russian border, he says - that of being able to solve conflicts through joint communication and cooperation.

The federal government wants to fight for this security to be regained.

Scholz has to interrupt speech: AfD causes a scandal – Bas threatens a fine

Update from January 12, 1:21 p.m .:

Olaf Scholz starts with the first words of his introductory speech – but Parliament President Bas has to interrupt directly: The AfD MPs present are holding up signs that say “Freedom instead of division”, a political action that is not allowed .

Bas threatens to be expelled from the hall and fined.

"I'm serious," she says.

The AfD parliamentary group holds up signs in the plenum that read "Freedom instead of division".

© Michael Kappeler/dpa

Update from January 12, 1:16 p.m .:

The parliamentarians continue to deal with the rules of procedure;

more precisely with the new Corona rules for the Bundestag.

For the Union, Parliamentary Secretary Thorsten Frei emphasizes that the change is correct - to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant and to keep the Bundestag able to act.

But he can't resist a tip to the SPD either: Bundestag President Bas showed leadership with the push.

He would also like Chancellor Olaf Scholz to do the same.

The following vote is quickly completed: against the votes of the AfD, the Bundestag decides the 2G Plus rule for its own house.

Scholz has to wait for the survey premiere - AfD and SPD are arguing about the new Bundestag rule

Update from January 12, 1:07 p.m .:

Olaf Scholz still has to wait a little – the AfD initially raises a counter-speech against the new corona rules in the plenum.

"They are demonstrably pushing healthy people into the stands," her Parliamentary Secretary Bernd Baumann rants: Those who have not been vaccinated are not allowed to go to the plenary session, while those who have been boosted do not need a test.

"The only sensible rule would be to test everyone!" calls Baumann.

SPD colleague Katja Mast replies: The exercise of the mandate is "not restricted at all" by the rules.

Rather, the new general ordinance strengthens the ability of Parliament to function.

At the same time, politicians expect citizens to comply with the Corona measures - and must act in the same way themselves.

Update vom 12. Januar, 13.04 Uhr: Als nächstes erklärt Bas die neuen Corona-Regeln im Bundestag - auch in der Volksvertretung gilt jetzt 2G-Plus.

Update vom 12. Januar, 13.01 Uhr: Bundestagspräsidentin Bärbel Bas (SPD) hat die Sitzung eröffnet. Sie eröffnet den Sitzungstag mit einer Würdigung für den verstorbenen Amtskollegen im Europaparlament, David Sassoli. Die Abgeordneten erheben sich für eine Schweigeminute.

Update vom 12. Januar, 12.58 Uhr: Die Glocke zum Sitzungsstart hat im Bundestag geschrillt - um kurz nach 13 Uhr wird sich Kanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD) zum ersten Mal den Abgeordneten zu einer Regierungsbefragung stellen. Für die Ampel-Koalition ist es der Auftakt zu einer anstrengenden Woche im Parlament: Nach Scholz‘ Auftritt heute und in den kommenden Tagen werden sich die Minister der neuen Regierung dem Plenum stellen.

Regierungsbefragung: Scholz‘ Premiere kommt am Mittwoch - auch Baerbock stellt sich dem Bundestag

Vorbericht: Berlin - Vor einem guten halben Jahr stand Angela Merkel (CDU) zum letzten Mal bei einer Regierungsbefragung dem Bundestag Rede und Antwort - und kämpfte unter anderem mit einem „flackernden Licht“. Durchaus möglich, dass ihr Nachfolger Olaf Scholz* (SPD) bei seiner Kanzler-Premiere für diesen Termin in etwas ernstlichere Probleme geraten wird. Zum einen wird die Opposition dem Neukanzler besonders gründlich auf den Zahl fühlen wollen. Zum anderen hat sich die Ampel-Regierung beim Thema Impfpflicht schon in erste Unstimmigkeiten manövriert.

Scholz im Bundestag: Erste Regierungsbefragung für Neu-Kanzler - Kritisch Impfpflicht-Fragen drohen

Denn eigentlich hatte Scholz noch für das erste Quartal 2022 eine Impfpflicht versprochen. Doch nun scheint die Koalition aus SPD, Grünen und FDP auf einen noch schwer einzugrenzenden späteren Termin zu zu schlingern. Justizminister Marco Buschmann (FDP) verwies auf mangelnde Omikron-Erkenntnisse*, andere Ampel-Politiker auf den Zeitbedarf einer offenen parlamentarischen Lösungsfindung.

Die Antwort auf drängende Fragen vor allem von Union und Linke steht aber offenbar auch schon: „Wir werden das im März abgeschlossen haben, ganz klar“, gab SPD-Fraktionschef Rolf Mützenich am Dienstag die Linie vor. Unions-Amtskollege Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU) dürfte indes einmal mehr auf mangelnde Führungsstärke Scholz‘ verweisen*. Eine Stunde lang wird der Kanzler - nach einem Eingangsstatement - Fragen aus dem Plenum beantworten.

Baerbock (Grüne) am Nachmittag dran: Regierungsbefragung im Bundestag - auch für mehrere Minister

Doch die rhetorische Nagelprobe für die Ampel-Koalition im Bundestag ist damit noch nicht beendet. Laut Tagesordnung des Bundestages werden in der Folge nacheinander noch vier Minister und ihre Ressorts in die Mangel genommen: Zunächst Innenministerin Nancy Faeser (SPD), im Anschluss Buschmann, schließlich Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock* (Grüne) und Umweltministerin Steffi Lemke (Grüne).

Zu allen vier Bereichen gibt es einiges an Gesprächspotenzial: Bei den Themen Innen und Justiz etwa die Corona-Maßnahmen und der Umgang mit Radikalisierungstendenzen in (kleinen) Teilen der Gesellschaft, beim Äußeren unter anderem der offenbar auch koalitionsintern umstrittene Umgang mit der Pipeline Nord Stream 2. In Sachen Umwelt könnten die Atompläne der EU oder auch die frisch vorgestellten Klimaschutzpläne von Vizekanzler Robert Habeck (Grüne) kritisch debattiert werden. Die Programmpunkte zu den Ressorts dauern jeweils 75 Minuten, Scholz wird 65 Minuten lang im Mittelpunkt der Debatte stehen.

• 13.00 Uhr: Befragung der Bundesregierung mit Kanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD)
• 14.05 Uhr: Debatte zum Thema Innen und Heimat mit Ministerin Nancy Faeser (SPD)

• 3.20 p.m .:

  Debate on the subject of law with Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP)

• 4.35 p.m .:

  Debate on foreign affairs, Europe and human rights with Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens*)

• 5.50 p.m .:

  Debate on the environment, nature conservation, nuclear safety and consumer protection with Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens)

A new, sometimes controversial regulation in the Bundestag could also provide unusual images in the government survey: Only vaccinated and tested MPs are allowed to attend the plenum;

2G Plus applies.

Unvaccinated parliamentarians are also allowed to speak - but only from the stands.

(

) *

.