Whistles for the Chancellor
Actually, being left means defending the rights of the weaker against the arbitrariness of the stronger.
But right now, some leftists in Germany appear to have no problem leaving Ukraine to its fate while Russian soldiers slaughter women and children there.
One's own attitude is then called pacifism, in truth it is a sign of delusion or naivety.
Apparently, some Germans still think that tyrants like Vladimir Putin can be impressed if they barricade themselves as resolutely as possible in their own allotments.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz
's (SPD) problem
is that many of his party's voters don't think much of Germany helping Ukraine with arms deliveries.
This became clear once again at a May Day rally in Düsseldorf.
There, Scholz was loudly booed by some attendees for his decision to hand over Gepard tanks to Ukraine
.
Not nice pictures for him and his SPD two weeks before the important state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Being chancellor means that you can't always please everyone.
If Scholz acts cautiously and cautiously in the crisis, it means he is not leading.
And when he decides to deliver heavy weapons, he gets beaten too.
Scholz wants to explain his Ukraine policy once again in a detailed interview today.
According to ZDF, the chancellor is scheduled to appear on the show "What Now...?"
Does it help?
According to a representative Insa survey for BamS, a majority of 54 percent of citizens are dissatisfied with the chancellor's work - a record since he was sworn in.
You can find more news and background information on the war in Ukraine here:
That happened at night:
shelling is reported from Ukraine, and there are also said to have been explosions on Russian soil.
Tour of damaged nuclear facility.
And: German help with grain exports.
The overview.
This is perpetrator-victim reversal in its purest form:
one can say that one would rather be a coward than brave.
But one should not sell a kowtow to the law of the strongest as peace-loving pacifism.
A response to the "open letter" of German celebrities.
America's best military aid:
US intelligence services play an important role in the background of the military successes of the Ukrainians against the Russians.
In this case, their data-gathering frenzy turns out to be a blessing.
»Have you thought all this through to the end?«:
The Indian author Pankaj Mishra is one of the most important voices in the Global South.
Here he says why the punitive measures against Putin go too far - and hit the wrong people
Right trip at the wrong time
In contrast, life as an opposition politician is beautifully simple.
For example, that of
Friedrich Merz
, the man who has wanted many important government positions but has never gotten one.
According to media reports, Merz is planning a trip to Kiev at the beginning of this week, and there may also be a meeting with
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
.
A confirmation of the specific travel plans was not initially available.
The Federal Criminal Police Office is said to have asked Merz to postpone the trip for security reasons.
Today the leader of the CDU parliamentary group in the Bundestag will first take part in a joint
presidium meeting of the CDU and CSU in Cologne
.
Maybe then we'll know more.
Merz' trip, if it really takes place, would be a PR stunt from the textbook for opposition politicians: he would go on exactly the trip that Chancellor Scholz has been expecting for a while.
You can do that as a Union leader
if you hope for a few points more on the
popularity
scale
.
From a German foreign and security policy perspective, however, the trip would now be a mistake.
Of course, Scholz is often too hesitant, and of course he should have gone to Kyiv long ago.
But it is also true that the head of the German opposition should only go there after the chancellor.
With a view to Ukraine and Russia policy, it would be better if the major parties refrained from party tactical games.
At least outwardly, they have to pull together as much as possible in this delicate situation.
Demonstrative disagreement helps one person in particular: Vladimir Putin.
Possibly meeting with Selenskyj: BKA is said to have "explicitly" advised Merz against a trip to Kyiv
Berlin now also for oil embargo
Plans for a European oil embargo against Russia are taking shape.
After initial reluctance, the German government is now also supporting a possible European oil embargo against Russia.
The German Press Agency reported this at the weekend, citing EU diplomats in Brussels.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock
confirmed: "We are also campaigning within the EU to now
go together as Europe to phase out oil
in the sixth package of sanctions, " she said on ARD.
Today, the energy ministers of the Community want to discuss the energy situation in the EU at an extraordinary meeting.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens)
had already made it clear a few days ago that
a ban on Russian oil imports would now be easier for Germany to cope with
than it was before the start of the Ukraine war.
This is also the result of the "Second Progress Report on Energy Security" published by his ministry.
Dependence on Russian oil has fallen from around 35 percent last year to 12 percent.
The big question now is when the EU will take concrete steps for a comprehensive oil embargo.
Several EU countries, including Hungary, Austria, Spain, Italy and Greece, are said to continue to resist a rapid import ban.
Shortfall in natural gas supply: Cold turkey from Siberian substance
Winner of the day...
…is
Joe Biden
.
After he had to experience a clear downward trend in the polls for several months,
the US President 's
popularity ratings rose again a little for the first
time
.
According to a survey commissioned by the Washington Post, 42 percent of Americans are satisfied with the work of the president; at the low point in February, this value was only 37 percent.
But the president is far from over the hill.
A whopping 52 percent of respondents still say they are dissatisfied with Biden's performance.
Meanwhile, the president himself is joking about his meager poll numbers.
Speaking briefly at the White House Correspondents' Annual Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, Biden joked that he was very glad to be at the gathering.
Because journalists are the only group of Americans who "have even lower approval ratings than I do."
The latest news from the night
Netflix is canceling the animated series by Meghan and Harry – for cost reasons:
“Pearl” was supposed to accompany the adventures of a young girl – but nothing will come of the planned Netflix series by Duchess Meghan and husband Harry.
The provider obviously wants to save
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan return to »Neighbors«:
They will be there again for the series finale: Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan are supposed to end »Neighbours« – in »a very special role«
May Day demonstrations largely peaceful:
People protested May Day in Berlin at various demonstrations – largely peacefully.
More than ten thousand demonstrators followed the call of left-wing groups.
In the evening there were scuffles with the police
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
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I wish you a good start into this week.
Yours, Roland Nelles
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