Even Scholz has to laugh when asked about the 9-euro ticket: "What other successes do you want to finish?"

Created: 08/12/2022, 05:38

At the end of the political summer break, the chancellor answered questions from the capital's media on Thursday - news ticker for Olaf Scholz's summer press conference.

• Short

  answer

  to the question about the

  Cum-Ex scandal

  : According to his own statements, Chancellor Olaf Scholz knows “nothing” about the cash found at SPD politician Kahrs.

• Chancellor

  does not expect any

  social divisions

  in winter: Scholz does not expect that there will be unrest due to rising inflation rates and the energy crisis.

• Chancellor

  's

  summer press conference

  : Olaf Scholz appeared before the media on Thursday morning

• This

  news ticker

  for

  Chancellor Scholz

  's

  summer press conference

  is continuously updated.

Update from August 11, 4:50 p.m .:

The nationwide offer of the 9-euro ticket in Germany will expire in just under three weeks.

The temporary offer was intended to relieve the burden on citizens in the face of skyrocketing energy prices and rising inflation rates.

So far, no one has been able to agree on a further offer in Berlin.

It goes without saying that the 9-euro ticket was also the subject of questions at the summer press conference.

The journalist Tilo Jung from the YouTube format "Jung und Naiv" ventured forward with a question about the offer.

“The 9-euro ticker in public transport is a great success for your government.

What other successes of your government do you want to end?” was the journalist's provocative question.

Laughter then echoed through the hall of the federal press conference and even the Federal Chancellor could not resist a mischievous grin.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz couldn't help but laugh at the summer press conference in Berlin.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

"None at all," Scholz replied with a smile.

The chancellor added: "It was limited in time from the start." However, he did not comment on a possible successor offer.

Summer press conference: Chancellor Scholz remains stubborn at Cum-Ex

Update from August 11, 12:43 p.m .:

This ends Olaf Scholz’s first summer press conference as Chancellor.

The 64-year-old answered questions from the journalists for almost three quarters of an hour and regularly explained his answers extensively.

Scholz was only always very defensive when it came to Cum-Ex and repeatedly replied stubbornly that he had already said everything about the events.

When asked about the find of cash from the SPD politician Johannes Kahrs, the Chancellor answered in monosyllables.

Scholz denied connections.

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Update from August 11, 12:43 p.m .:

The last questions.

“The challenges associated with the Ukraine war are immense.

That's why we're rightly dealing with what we need to tackle next," said the Chancellor, referring to the federal government's crisis management.

The last question of the press conference.

A journalist wants to know whether Scholz would miss his predecessor Angela Merkel in the current times.

"I like to talk to her on the phone, but I also like being chancellor now," Scholz replies with a smile.

Update from August 11, 12:35 p.m .:

A journalist wants to know whether Germany would deliver enough weapons to Ukraine.

"Germany is among the countries that are currently supplying the most advanced weapons," explains Scholz, initially with a view to multiple rocket launchers and Gepard tanks.

Summer press conference with Chancellor Scholz - last meeting with Kahrs "must have been a long time ago"

Update from August 11, 12:31 p.m .:

“It must have been a long time ago,” Scholz answers when asked when he last spoke to Johannes Kahrs.

He currently has no contact.

Update from August 11, 12:30 p.m.:

“We have agreed not to make such an income tax increase for top earners.

That was in the SPD election program, I think also in that of the Greens, but not in all three,” explains the Chancellor in response to a corresponding question.

Update from August 11, 12:18 p.m .:

The Cum-Ex scandal continues.

“I have already reported everything I have to report on this,” explains Scholz again coolly.

There was no "political influence," the Chancellor repeated stubbornly.

Update August 11, 12:13 p.m.:

"It's good that I have them.

It is my job to ensure that this government takes the right measures to respond to this crisis," the chancellor replied to a question about the use of his directive authority.

Scholz in the summer press conference – Chancellor blocks questions about Cum-Ex

Update from August 11, 12:04 p.m .:

Next question about Cum-Ex.

"Above all, it is not credible if you mix facts into a question that have not been proven," Scholz replied seriously when asked by a journalist about the chancellor's credibility.

The Chancellor also blocked an inquiry with reference to unproven facts.

Update from August 11, 12:04 p.m.:

“I think we need projects that also deal with pipelines,” explains the Chancellor when asked about the energy transition.

“I have been very busy with a pipeline that we unfortunately missed dramatically today.

From Portugal through Spain to Central Europe.” The Chancellor campaigned in the EU for such a project to be implemented.

With a view to hydrogen as a future technology, an infrastructure of pipelines and terminals would continue to be important - even in a time without gas exports, explains the Chancellor.

Update from August 11, 11:53 a.m .:

A question about a possible entry ban for Russian citizens.

"This is Putin's war and that's why I have a hard time with this idea," said the Chancellor.

“We have decided on very far-reaching sanctions affecting oligarchs.

It would rather weaken these measures if they were now directed against everyone, including the innocent.”

Update from August 11, 11:51 a.m .:

"Yes, I even have a perspective that goes beyond that," the Chancellor replied when asked whether the traffic light could last for four years.

"It is not the case that a unification party conference took place with the coalition agreement," emphasized the Chancellor.

Rather, it is about three different parties that have also started with different political programs - for example in tax policy.

Nevertheless, the partners brought about the coalition agreement, "which we are now working through and pushing forward bit by bit and even at great speed".

Scholz summer press conference: Inaugural visit to China under discussion

Update from August 11, 11:48 a.m .:

“As far as the question of dependency is concerned, this is an issue that we have to deal with,” explains Scholz about possible dependencies on China.

"So we will have to ensure that we lift lithium in many places around the world and then make it exportable to countries like ours." A date for an initial visit to Beijing is currently being discussed, but not yet fixed, explains Scholz a demand.

Update from August 11, 11:45 a.m .:

Brief answer on the subject of the 9-euro ticket.

"It was limited in time from the start," explains the Chancellor when asked why the offer would not be extended.

Update from August 11, 11:40 a.m.:

Demand for the Cum-Ex scandal.

“I have commented on these things extensively and for many hours.

This has been a topic for everyone who works on this topic for two and a half years now.

If you follow the reports, the result is always that there was no political influence.” Scholz does not expect this assessment to change again in the future.

Brief answer to a question about the Cum-Ex scandal – Chancellor Scholz knows “nothing”

Update from August 11, 11:35 a.m .:

The Cum-Ex scandal is addressed for the first time.

"Nothing," Scholz replies succinctly when asked what he knows about the money in the locker of SPD politician Johannes Kahrs.

"I'm as curious as you are and would of course like to know where it comes from," the Chancellor replied.

"But he will probably not give me or you any information," said Scholz, looking at Kahrs.

Update from August 11, 11:32 a.m .:

The next question is about solidarity within the EU.

“EU solidarity is even better than predicted a few years ago.

I would like to remind you again of the reactions to the corona pandemic.

All in all, it worked out well," said the Chancellor.

"Europe came through this crisis better than many had predicted." "We also reacted to the Russian aggression in a very unified manner and in a spirit of solidarity," Scholz continues.

“We made decisions with regard to Ukraine and Moldova.

We have made decisions to improve our energy supply.

I hope that we will continue to show solidarity.

It will definitely be Germany,” Scholz concludes his answer.

Scholz in the summer press conference: "The Russian President bears responsibility for this war"

Update from August 11, 11:25 a.m .:

Another question about the Ukraine war.

“This is a criminal war, there is no doubt about it.

We also saw a lot of war crimes," said Scholz.

"I am therefore very convinced that we must take all measures to solve these crimes.

This is happening with all the options that we have at our disposal,” the Federal Chancellor continued.

“The Russian President bears responsibility for this war.

He has decided that there will be him.

This is a turning point.”

Update from August 11, 11:25 a.m .:

“Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has twice compensated for the consequences of a cold progression.

It can't be a bad idea to do something like that," explains Scholz, referring to Finance Minister Lindner's plans.

"Of course we'll see together how we can do it." "We'll combine it into an effective package."

Update from August 11, 11:22 a.m.:

On the subject of gas supply: "When we decided to build these terminals, we didn't have to start from 0," says Scholz, referring to the construction of LNG terminals in Germany.

"Now we have this basis and that's why it will go quickly.

The first liquid gas terminals will be connected at the beginning of next year in winter,” said Scholz, again emphasizing the rapid pace with which this project is being tackled.

Chancellor does not expect social divisions in winter

Update from August 11, 11:20 a.m .:

“No, I don’t think there will be unrest in this form in this country,” Scholz replies to a question about possible unrest in winter.

"I'm very confident.

The citizens are smart.

You know it's not going to be easy now.

We are preparing ourselves and we are helping citizens and companies in this situation.”

Update from August 11, 11:16 a.m .:

The next question concerns the goals of the governing coalition.

“The topic of driving progress in Germany” continues to be the main goal of the traffic light coalition.

“Because of the changes you mentioned, we're going to speed things up even more.

It is now even more obvious that we must become independent of coal and gas.

"Russia is thinking further in terms of imperialist power politics and believes it is possible to attack its neighbors and grab a piece of its territory," explains the chancellor, referring to the Ukraine war.

Update from August 11, 11:12 a.m .:

The first questions revolve around possible social tensions in winter.

"Citizens can rest assured that we will not leave them alone," said Scholz.

Many of the measures are currently not even noticeable, the Chancellor continued.

"There will also be another package that we as the federal government will put together and with which we can help the citizens," explains Scholz, referring to the rising prices.

"There is a challenge with the energy supply, because we just didn't rely on the rates of the past few years," said the Chancellor of the Russian gas supply.

Summer press conference with Chancellor Scholz - "We are in serious times"

Update from August 11, 11:05 a.m .:

Scholz begins with a short statement “We are in serious times.

Everyone in this country knows that,” the Chancellor introduces.

"The greatest challenge is the terrible war that Russia has started against Ukraine." In this it is still necessary for Germany to support Ukraine.

With a view to the gas crisis, the chancellor explains that back in December he already considered the question of what would happen if Russia stopped supplying gas to Germany.

"Apparently no one has asked this question before," states the Federal Chancellor.

"In addition to the necessary energy saving measures and the relief measures already planned, we will initiate further relief measures," explains the Chancellor.

"You'll never walk alone" is the motto of the federal government at this time.

You now have to "put together an overall package that includes all population groups," said Scholz, with a view to tax relief.

However, the current measures would not have any impact on the measures already decided, such as the increase in the minimum wage or the expansion of living space, explained the Chancellor.

"We are working through all the omissions of the last few years," said Scholz, referring to the tasks of the traffic light government.

Update from August 11, 11:02 a.m .:

It is Olaf Scholz’s first appearance as Chancellor at the federal press conference.

In other positions, however, the SPD politician has often been represented in the past.

Chancellor Scholz's summer press conference NOW LIVE

Update from August 11, 11 a.m.:

The Chancellor steps onto the podium.

Ready to go.

Update from August 11, 10:55 a.m .:

Shortly before the start of the summer press conference, CDU leader Friedrich Merz criticized the Chancellor.

"We see a strikingly bad, sometimes aggressively rejecting behavior of the SPD towards us at all levels," said the opposition leader in the Bundestag in a conversation with the German Press Agency in Berlin.

"We regret that and could have imagined it differently." Scholz himself has not accepted the offer of cooperation on important projects "since the beginning of May," criticized Merz

Update from August 11, 10:45 a.m .:

In just under 15 minutes, Chancellor Olaf Scholz should step in front of the microphones in Berlin and answer questions from journalists on site at the summer press conference.

An explosive date in times of the Ukraine war and the energy crisis.

Summer press conference with Olaf Scholz – is the chancellor under pressure?

First report from August 11th:

Berlin – Shortly before his first summer press conference as chancellor, the Union increases the pressure on Olaf Scholz.

The SPD politician had to use his appearance on August 11 to clarify the cum-ex scandal surrounding the Hamburg Warburg Bank during his time as mayor, said the parliamentary union manager Thorsten Frei (CDU) to the

newspapers.

"Scholz's memory gaps from three meetings with bankers who evaded taxes cannot be explained," said Frei.

Now there is the "cash find of 200,000 euros in small notes that belong to his buddy Johannes Kahrs." Frei demanded: "Olaf Scholz has to explain himself."

Topics of the Scholz summer press conference - cum-ex, Ukraine war, inflation

Scholz wants to answer questions from the capital's journalists directly at a summer press conference on Thursday.

It is Scholz's first appearance of this kind as chancellor - former chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) had also regularly invited to summer press conferences.

Questions on all areas of domestic and foreign policy are usually asked on this occasion.

This year, the focus is likely to be on the consequences of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the expected energy crisis.

But it is also to be expected that Scholz will be asked about the tax affair involving the Hamburg Warburg Bank.