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Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) at the beginning of the question and answer session in the Bundestag
Photo: Michele Tantussi / REUTERS
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) fought a battle of words with the AfD on the sidelines of a government survey in the Bundestag.
He accused the party of reacting to the Ukraine war and the resulting costs for Germans in a way that was "removed from reality".
"They don't realize that there really is a war going on right now," Scholz said to the right-wing faction.
»Not only a right-wing populist party, but also the party of Russia«
Scholz responded to a question from AfD MP Steffen Kotré, who described the sanctions against Russia as "useless" and called for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany to be put into operation.
Scholz replied: "I'll make it clear: the AfD is not only a right-wing populist party, but also the party of Russia."
Solidarity with Ukraine is now "the right answer," and many Germans would support it and save voluntarily.
At the same time, Scholz confirmed that Germany was preparing to give up Russian oil and gas and was also building the necessary infrastructure.
"This is real energy security for Germany in the interests of all citizens."
No to the term extension
In view of the impending energy bottlenecks in winter, Scholz rejected an extension of the lifespan of the three nuclear power plants still in operation in Germany.
Rather, it is about the three reactors producing as much electricity as possible in the summer in order to be able to reduce gas-fired power generation at the same time, says Scholz in the Bundestag.
In the government survey, cabinet members answer questions from MPs for 60 minutes, and it was Chancellor Scholz's turn in the early afternoon.
In addition to energy prices, the focus was also on arms deliveries to Ukraine, a shortage of nursing staff and social justice.
Scholz remained vague in many places.
With regard to the promised security guarantees for Ukraine, he said that the government was not yet able to specify this further.
The design must first be discussed with the partner countries and also with Ukraine itself.
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