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Chancellor Olaf Scholz (l.), CDU leader Friedrich Merz: Not as usual

Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa

Reform backlog and constant dispute at the traffic lights, plus poor survey results: the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is in crisis. Now the general debate in the Bundestag saw the first speech duel of the year between Scholz and CDU leader Friedrich Merz - which the opposition leader did not use as usual for a frontal attack against the Chancellor. But against the AfD.

“Xenophobia, anti-Semitism and nationalism go hand in hand with you,” Merz accused the largely right-wing extremist party in his opening speech. “They are not the alternative for Germany, they would be the final relegation for Germany,” said Merz, both economically and, above all, morally.

Merz praised the mass demonstrations against the AfD after the private meeting in Potsdam that became known as a sign of the center for a free and open society. “We expressly welcome that,” said Merz. Merz ignored calls that CDU officials also attended the meeting. Instead, Merz indirectly accused the traffic light of having contributed significantly to the AfD's strengthening through bad politics. After all, the right-wing party rose from 10 to 20 percent in the polls within two years.

Merz had previously outlined a future model for Germany within Europe. There is a need for a common European foreign and security policy as well as a common industrial policy, and Berlin must push for this realignment. “Germany should take on this task from a position of strength and responsibility at the same time,” said Merz. To do this, Germany must "overcome its weak growth": reduce bureaucracy, reduce the tax burden for companies and not only manage energy policy through subsidies.

“You are a party of subsidized unemployment”

He accused the SPD of “mismanagement” in social and climate policy. "They have become a party of subsidized unemployment." The Chancellor's party should not only steer the country through subsidies; the capital market must be reopened. “Our country will only win the competition if we stop lecturing everyone else,” said Merz.

Chancellor Scholz also focused his speech on the fight against right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism. “We have a task ahead of our history,” said Scholz. The rise of right-wing populism must be stopped by all democrats. In this context, he warned Merz not to blame the traffic lights for the AfD's strength. “We have to stand together as democrats,” said Scholz.

“We have relieved the working middle of this country”

Scholz played down Merz's allegations. The traffic light strengthens the economy and the income of working people, for example through the increased minimum wage, through tax cuts or through child benefit. “We have relieved the burden on the working middle class in this country and we will continue to pursue this course.” The traffic light is also doing more in asylum policy than the previous CDU-led government, said Scholz. The deportation offensive is underway, as is better control of migration, for example through the payment cards that have now been introduced.

The traffic lights have set the pace for two years where speed was necessary, said Scholz. The coalition is in the process of working through everything that has been left behind in Germany. “And a lot was left behind,” said Scholz in the direction of Merz.

With regard to Ukraine, the Chancellor called for continued support and European unity. Putin "hopes that Europe will tire" and that the West will lose interest. But it is a common cause of friends of freedom, democracy and the rule of law not to leave Ukraine alone.

The exchange of blows was the first between the two opponents since the Chancellor's government statement on the historic ruling with which the Federal Constitutional Court turned the traffic light's budget planning on its head. The budget discussions for the new budget for 2024 have still not been completed.

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