The decision is made: Germany will deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Olaf Scholz comments on this and appears with a broad chest.
Berlin – Externally, no difference can be seen.
Short hair, dark jacket, dark tie, white shirt.
Olaf Scholz looks the same as he always does when answering questions from members of the Bundestag.
This ritual takes place three times a year, always on a Wednesday at 1 p.m., in the Berlin Reichstag.
It takes 90 minutes – mostly routine.
But this time the survey falls on the day after it became clear that not only Germany itself is supplying battle tanks to Ukraine, but possibly also the Americans, in consultation with Berlin.
And so, of course, the question arises as to whether the chancellor, whom the political competition recently saw only as a procrastinator, is actually a great strategist.
Whether everything was really planned that way or whether Scholz (SPD) had to be rescued from a stuck situation by US President Joe Biden will probably only come to light - if at all - in years to come.
Scholz, however, is clearly trying to back up the version that is friendlier to him during the survey on Wednesday.
The Chancellor appears with a broad chest
The Chancellor appears with a broad chest.
"If we were to follow your advice, that would be a danger to Germany's security," he slams the CDU MP Jürgen Hardt in the face on behalf of the entire Union, when he blames Scholz and his hesitation for diplomatic "corridor damage" with Germany's allies responsible.
It would have been "a bad, serious mistake" to go ahead alone on this issue, says Scholz.
He will point out several times during the survey how important it is "that we didn't let ourselves drift".
After all, when supporting Ukraine, Germany must always make it clear “that at the same time we are preventing the war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO”.
And there are "no mathematical certainties"
After the largest opposition faction, it is then the turn of a traffic light partner, the Greens.
The chancellor uses Agnieszka Brugger's expected friendly question as a cue to place further hints that allow him to appear in the mild light of a persevering negotiator.
The decisions made "have been prepared for some time," emphasizes Scholz - and notes with a slight smugness: "The calendars in other capitals are not based on any events in Germany."
Traffic light coalition: The Scholz cabinet at a glance
Traffic light coalition: The Scholz cabinet at a glance
Scholz expressly rules out the use of combat aircraft or even ground troops
When Scholz' party friend Nils Schmid put another question to the chancellor, he used the opportunity to emphasize the "great, great agreement with the American president", who turned out to be a "really good partner".
We all agree on where the limits are.
Scholz expressly rules out the use of combat aircraft or even ground troops.
In view of the importance of the topic, it almost seems a bit bizarre when the left suddenly asked the chancellor about the double contribution of health insurance contributions for directly insured persons.
But Question Time is thematically open.
As a result, there are also other matters far apart from war and peace.
In any case, the chancellor had already given his message of the day a long time ago: "Trust me, trust the federal government."
SEBASTIAN HORSCH
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