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Chancellor Olaf Scholz is a guest at the German Press Agency in Berlin.
Right: dpa editor-in-chief Sven Gösmann.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
The circumstances of Kremlin critic Navalny's death remain unclear.
Chancellor Scholz makes it clear who, in his view, is responsible for the death.
And he also takes a clear position on other topics.
Berlin - Chancellor Olaf Scholz has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny.
“I, like everyone else, assume that it was the regime that killed him,” said the SPD politician in Berlin at the dpa editorial conference in chief.
Russia is a dictatorship.
“His death is now the consequence of a dictatorship.”
According to authorities, Navalny died on February 16 in the penal camp with the unofficial name “Arctic Wolf” in the Siberian Arctic region of Yamal.
The circumstances of his death are not clear.
The politician, weakened by the poison attack and repeated solitary confinement in the camp, is said to have collapsed during a tour of the icy prison yard and died despite attempts to resuscitate him.
According to Navalny's team, the death certificate mentions "natural" causes.
It is difficult to say whether Navalny's death will weaken or strengthen the opposition, said Scholz.
“In any case, it is clear that all those who are oppositional need a lot of courage.” This has become even more dangerous than on his last visit to Moscow.
“At the same time, we see that the Russian president and all those who support him politically are very afraid.” This can be seen in the fact that the only candidate for the presidential election with opposition support was excluded from the election.
Scholz rejects Taurus cruise missiles for Ukraine
Meanwhile, Scholz clearly rejects the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine at this time and justifies this with the risk of Germany becoming involved in the war.
“We must not be linked at any point or place to the goals that this system achieves,” said Scholz.
Therefore, this is not the next option on the agenda.
“This clarity is also necessary.
I'm surprised that some people aren't moved at all, that they don't even think about whether what we're doing could, in a sense, lead to participation in the war.”
The Chancellor further explained: “It is a very far-reaching weapon.
And what the British and French are doing in terms of target control and accompanying target control cannot be done in Germany.
Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that.” He is surprised that this question is asked again and again.
He was “very irritated” by the “missing balance” between what was really needed now and the debate about this one system.
“What Ukraine is missing is ammunition in all possible lengths and distances, but not crucially this thing from Germany,” he said when asked about the Taurus.
Scholz further explained that the “talk” that there was hesitation was a problem in Germany.
“A lot of people watch TV in the evenings and hope that the Chancellor will keep his nerve,” said Scholz.
The Taurus is one of the Air Force's most modern missiles.
The weapons find their target even from great heights and distances and can destroy bunkers, for example.
Chancellor Scholz had already decided at the beginning of October not to deliver any Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia.
The fear behind this was that Russian territory could also be hit by the precision weapons with a range of 500 kilometers.
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Scholz rejects cuts in the social sector
Given the economic situation in Germany, Scholz strictly rejected social cuts and the dismantling of workers' rights.
The CDU and CSU wanted to approach pensions by raising the retirement age, others wanted to limit benefits in the event of illness and long-term care, some wanted to reduce protection against dismissal and other things.
“For me, that is out of the question, to say that very clearly,” said the SPD politician.
“I rule out the possibility of a government led by me doing something like that.”
Chancellor expects the traffic lights to remain in place until the election
Scholz assumes that the traffic light coalition will last until the end of the electoral period next autumn.
“I think anyone who goes to a bookmaker would do better with this option.
Scholz was asked whether he would bet that the traffic lights would last until the next federal election.
The Chancellor reacted calmly to FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai's open expressions of sympathy for a black-yellow coalition.
“I won't give it any further thought.
Everyone is responsible for themselves and must also consider their own perspectives wisely,” said Scholz.
dpa