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Top candidate for the European elections: Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

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Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa

The left-wing politician Dietmar Bartsch has called on the chairwoman of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, to vacate her post. "It is a question of political hygiene that Strack-Zimmermann is resigning from her position as chairwoman of the Bundestag's Defense Committee two months before the European elections," Bartsch told the German Press Agency.

The former parliamentary group leader of the now dissolved left-wing faction in the Bundestag is himself a member of the committee.

»The exercise of this office is not compatible with Ms. Strack-Zimmermann's top candidate for the European elections for the FDP and also for the European Liberals. The FDP should replace her as quickly as possible two months before the European elections. In his opinion, the election campaign contradicts the committee leadership's requirement of neutrality.

The European elections in Germany are on June 9th. Election posters with Strack-Zimmermann show her portrait with the word “Eurofighter,” among other things. The FDP says they are arguing with the top candidate for a “strong and defensive Europe”.

The Eurofighter is a fighter jet. Strack-Zimmermann repeatedly advocates for greater military support for Ukraine in its defense against the Russian war of aggression.

sak/dpa