As of: February 21, 2024, 5:03 a.m
By: Kathrin Braun, Christian Deutschländer
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The debate about the Taurus deliveries to Ukraine could cause further trouble in the traffic light coalition - to the delight of the Union.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The Taurus debates are putting a strain on the traffic light coalition.
FDP politician Strack-Zimmermann has announced that she will vote with the Union.
Who follows her?
Berlin/Munich – The authors made a special effort: they wrote nine tightly printed pages in small font, but the irritating word is missing.
The term “Taurus”, currently the most controversial and sought-after German weapon system, does not appear anywhere in the detailed proposal from the representatives of the SPD, Greens and FDP.
Is that brilliant – or cowardly?
There is suddenly considerable anger in the coalition.
Taurus for Ukraine: Traffic light coalitions call on their own government to act
The paper entitled “Resolutely Defend Ukraine and Europe” has been circulating in Berlin since the beginning of the week.
It describes, surrounded by plenty of political prose, how much Germany should support the attacked Ukraine.
The MPs are calling on their own government to act, but at the same time they are praising it in such detail that it is not an affront.
“This includes the delivery of additionally required long-range weapon systems and ammunition,” it says.
Ukraine should be able to carry out targeted attacks on targets “far to the rear of the Russian aggressor” in accordance with international law.
That describes Taurus - the German missile system that has a range of 500 kilometers, can rush under enemy air defenses and break through bunkers.
Many Ukraine supporters in the coalition want to deliver it.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) resists.
He never said it publicly, but his concern is that Ukraine can use it to attack Russian territory, not just Russian-occupied territory.
He definitely doesn't want to make this possible with German weapons (the manufacturer is a subsidiary of MDBA from Schrobenhausen in Upper Bavaria).
In addition, part of the left wing in the SPD - around parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich - is very critical of all arms deliveries.
Strack-Zimmermann criticizes the “stubbornness of the Chancellery” in the Taurus debate
The coalition's joint proposal was intended to conceal the dispute - but is now fueling it.
The most committed Taurus fighter at the traffic light, the FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, in protest (also) agrees to a proposal from the opposition Union that explicitly mentions Taurus.
“The traffic light proposal is well-founded, supports Ukraine comprehensively and, given the current events, is more than was previously possible with the SPD,” she tells our newspaper.
“For me there is still one word missing that is absolutely correct: Taurus.
That's why I'm voting for the Union's proposal this week." She also speaks of resistance from the SPD and the "stubbornness of the Chancellery" at Taurus.
The resolute Rhinelander, 65, is the first to expose herself.
Who follows is open.
Green Party leader Omid Nouripour recently called for a quick decision.
Parliamentary group colleague Anton Hofreiter, who is well connected to Strack-Zimmermann and on similar lines, did not comment until the evening.
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“Triple oomph” in the traffic lights: Dobrindt mocks the government’s lack of unity
This is not formally a breach of the coalition; MPs are allowed to vote according to their conscience, but should report this to their parliamentary group leadership in good time.
Things get tricky when such cases accumulate.
And that's how it works, because on the same day two East German FDP MPs announced that they would vote against the traffic light's "Democracy Promotion Act".
The Union is happy.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz emphasizes that it would be the first time in this legislature if FDP MPs voted for a Union initiative.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt scoffs at the “triple oomph” in Taurus, budget and asylum policy, i.e. oomph in the sense of internal dispute.
The traffic light can probably “no longer agree on anything”.
(K. BRAUN/C. GERMAN)