The general debate in the Bundestag is scheduled for today, Wednesday. As usual, the government and opposition will exchange blows. FOCUS Online reports for you in the live ticker.
9:26 a.m .: It almost seems as if the Hanseatic chancellor, who is calm in himself, would jump out of his skin. So, in the Scholz framework. In fact, he responds to Merz’s questions, but does not answer them – at least not yet.
9.25 a.m .: “You did a great job of reading your manuscript,” scoffs Scholz. “You won’t get away with just asking questions. You don’t position yourself. And if you do, it’ll be embarrassing,” the Chancellor scoffed.
9:24 a.m .: Let’s see how the Chancellor reacts to that. He now speaks.
9:22 a.m.: “I would like to make you a proposal. You must have a canned speech. Put those aside and answer three questions: What weapons is Germany supplying to Ukraine? How will you vote in the European Council on Ukraine’s EU candidate status? What suggestions do you have for pension insurance?” Merz concludes his heated speech and puts the gun on Scholz’s chest.
9:19 a.m .: “The word turning point remains in the room without reference to the new debt,” Merz refers to a statement by Scholz on February 27. “The coalition agreement only belongs in the archive.”
9.18 a.m .: While Merz continues his angry speech, the camera also captures Olaf Scholz, Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP). The chancellor looks relatively unimpressed, Habeck and Lindner grin with amusement. To the outside world, they don’t seem particularly affected by the accusations made by the opposition.
9.15 a.m .: So far, Scholz has failed to launch initiatives with other European countries in terms of defense and security policy. “How will you vote when it will be decided in a few days whether Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans will be granted EU candidate status?” asks Merz. Scholz must absolutely fly the flag on this issue and must not leave this to the European Council.
9:13 a.m .: Scholz must make it clear that Russia must be pushed back behind the February 24 contact line. Then Merz counts Scholz’ dealings with Klaus von Dohnanyi (SPD), in turn the first mayor in Hamburg, who is now going through the talk shows and protecting Russia. The chancellor does not react to this.
9.11 a.m .: “What are you actually hiding from us? You phone Putin for 80 minutes and tomorrow the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine is coming to Berlin. And so far you’ve been refusing him an appointment. What’s going on in your government?” asks the CDU chairman provocatively.
9:08 a.m .: “You talk more than usual – but you continue to say little,” Merz shoots against Chancellor Scholz, and applause breaks out here too. So far there has only been disappointment and annoyance about the attitude of the federal government. There is also displeasure in the government ranks “Without US help, Ukraine would have been overrun by Russia long ago,” he quotes Viola von Cramon, a Green MEP.
9.06 a.m .: Now the Ukraine war is an issue. “We would have wished that the federal government had complied with the mandate of the Bundestag. We have decided to deliver arms to Ukraine in addition to humanitarian aid,” he says, to the applause of the deputies. To date, the weapons have not been delivered – a month has already passed.
9.03 a.m .: Opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) has the floor. He first talks about the 100 billion euros in equipment for the Bundeswehr, which he strongly supports. There will be an economic plan that lists and prescribes all expenses.
9.02 a.m .: Bärbel Bas opens the meeting.
9.00 a.m.: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The general debate will begin in a few moments.
The highlight of the budget week in the Bundestag is the general debate on Wednesday (9 a.m.). During the debate on the budget for the Chancellery – the budget envisages spending of 496 billion euros – the government and opposition traditionally exchange blows on current issues. As chairman of the largest opposition faction, CDU leader Friedrich Merz will open the debate. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) speaks after him. All other parliamentary group leaders also want to take the floor.
The dominant theme of the four-hour general debate is likely to be the Ukraine war and its consequences. This also includes high inflation, especially the huge increase in energy prices, and the question of how the government is reacting to this.
