As of: March 13, 2024, 5:54 p.m
By: Peter Sieben
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Fear is not a good advisor.
But that is exactly what defense expert Serap Güler (CDU) sees in Chancellor Scholz in the Taurus debate.
And she notices something else that the SPD probably won't like.
Berlin - Sometimes a Chancellor's message is not enough: Although Olaf Scholz recently reiterated his no to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles ("I am the Chancellor, and that's why this applies"), the last word is far from spoken.
On Thursday, at the request of the CDU, there will be another vote on the Taurus delivery in the Bundestag.
CDU MP and defense expert Serap Güler has a very clear opinion on the Chancellor's stance.
Are you actually grateful to Olaf Scholz?
How come?
Because he's making it pretty easy for the opposition by saying no to the Taurus delivery.
No, I'm not grateful at all.
The issue is far too serious to be exploited for party politics.
I think he's trying to show strength and leadership, but it's going completely wrong.
Serap Güler (CDU) has been a member of the Bundestag since 2021.
Before that, she was State Secretary for Integration in the NRW Family Ministry.
She comes from the Ruhr area and lives in Cologne and Berlin.
© Peter Sieben
How would it be better?
For me, leadership would mean that he explains his position to the coalition partners and the opposition leader.
But the coalition itself hardly seems to be informed anymore.
One could almost think that our security and defense policy is no longer made in the Bundestag, but in the SPD party headquarters.
And the SPD gives the impression that the Chancellor has secret information on the basis of which he does not want to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
I don't believe in that.
If this information really existed, then he would at least explain it to a small group.
But he doesn't do that.
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Maybe he just wants to be the peace chancellor who keeps Germany out of the war.
We are already in hybrid war with Russia.
There are cyber attacks on our economy, on our critical infrastructure every day, and high-ranking Bundeswehr officers have been bugged by Russian spies.
When the Chancellor says that Germany should not become a party to the war, then I seriously ask myself what world he actually lives in.
The SPD is currently desperately trying to change the Chancellor's image from a procrastinator to a doer and peace chancellor.
In reality, Olaf Scholz only reacts to Putin's threats with fear.
This should not be confused with prudence.
Nobody wants an escalation.
But Germany should be clearer in its stance towards Russia.
Do you think that, apart from cyberattacks, there could also be attacks in Germany?
Maybe by Putin supporters who live here?
The danger definitely increases.
These don't necessarily have to be explosive attacks.
This can also be symbolic explosive.
Something like the Lisa case.
Are you referring to the false report that spread among the Russian-speaking population about an alleged rape in 2016, which subsequently led to diplomatic tensions between Russia and Germany?
Exactly.
This was more than just a cyber attack.
We have to prepare ourselves for the fact that such attacks will soon occur more frequently from a pro-Putin community.
And the security authorities also need to focus more on this.
There will be massive disinformation campaigns designed to divide society.
There are three state elections in East Germany this year.
Some polls there show the AfD at over 30 percent.
How do you explain that?
A lot of people don't have the feeling that the federal government is really doing everything it can to solve the challenges and problems in the country.
Rather, the coalition stands out due to internal disputes.
This is how trust in politics is lost.
And some then turn to those who promise supposed quick solutions that in reality cannot exist in a democracy.
That's exactly what the AfD and, by the way, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance are doing.
Is the CDU's firewall to the right still stable?
I don't understand why this is always only demanded by the CDU.
If you look at the current discussion about the situation in Ukraine, you will notice a frightening similarity between the SPD and the AfD.
You mean because the AfD is against arms deliveries and the SPD chancellor remains against the Taurus?
Not only.
Even if you look at the definitions of war participation by Alice Weidel and Olaf Scholz, you will notice a quasi-congruence.
The firewall seems to be more than just crumbling.
For many people and for the SPD, that doesn't seem to matter at all.
But to answer the question: Yes, our firewall is stable.
Anyone in the party who sees things differently has had the opportunity to orient themselves differently for a few weeks now.
Are you talking about Hans-Georg Maaßen's new party, which was formed from the Values Union?
Exactly.
He can obviously imagine cooperation with the AfD.
This is where we differ as the CDU and the centrist party.
The CDU is currently setting up a new migrant network, you should lead it.
Why is such a network needed?
We would like to offer different migrant communities a space where they can voice their concerns.
With over 25 percent of people with a migration background in our country, it is more than appropriate for a people's party to devote more attention to these people.
According to one theory, so-called clan crime arose in cities like Berlin, Bremen and Essen because the Arab-Lebanese community there was left to its own devices for too long.
Is that true?
There are a lot of people who have to solve problems on their own and still don't become criminals.
When it comes to clans, we're not talking about opportunistic theft, but about forced prostitution, drug trafficking, protection money extortion, i.e. really tough forms of organized crime.
But yes, of course mistakes have been made in migration policy in the last few decades.
Which?
We still had Turkish classes in the Ruhr area in the 80s.
All Turkish children were put in a class where only Turkish was spoken.
It was thought that they would go back and not have to learn German.
Another example: A fellow student of mine came from the Lebanese community in Essen, where many still only have a tolerated status.
After graduating, I quickly had my first interviews, but he didn't have any at all.
That had nothing to do with him being worse.
The only difference was that he was just tolerated.
If you don't even get a chance, even though you've successfully completed your studies, then that's something that affects you.
What happened to him?
I don't know, but I think he was certainly strong enough not to turn to crime.
You have been in the Bundestag since 2021.
Do you sometimes miss Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia when you are in Berlin?
Every day.
The best thing about Berlin is the train ride back to Cologne.
Big politics are made in Berlin and that gives me great joy.
But I am and will remain a NRW resident; apart from politics, nothing draws me to Berlin.
Home is where the Dom is.