German Bundestag,
Plenarprotokoll 19/195, pp. 24580-24582.
Right honorable Herr President. Right honorable ladies and
gentlemen. Dear countrymen.
Much has happened in the last days. All of these events
raise questions which revolve about me as a politician, businessman, father and
citizen and do not allow me to sleep peacefully. Right honorable Frau
Chancellor, I am perplexed by the extension of the preventative measures. You
thereby proverbially shut down Germany. And please, it is clear to us that the
endangered groups must be protected; we have here demanded that often enough.
Claudia Roth (Greens-Augsburg): What?
Britta Haßelmann (Greens): You have not done that! Many of you still deny Corona!
Yet what value to you is the life’s work of those who depend
on your decisions? Where is your respect for the dignity of men, for our Basic
Law?
Anton Hofreiter (Greens): You do not at all know what the dignity of men is!
Economically and mentally, this Federal government leaves
behind a field of rubble.
Now, Frau Dr. Merkel, have you really thought through this
entire process to the end? That actually corresponds to your credo. Why will
not critical voices also be included for you in the determination of decisions?
How scientific are these proceedings?
As an opposition party, we of the AfD strive for reasonable
and proportionate solutions. With all means, you defame us at every stage; Herr
Mützenich has again
here given the best example of that. We are elected members. We represent the
portion of the population which has given us their votes. As a member of the
largest opposition party in the German Bundestag, I can only say: That is over
12 percent or 6 million of the voters. With your proceedings, you defame not
only the AfD, you separate our voters from society and, despite that, offer
them no persuasive concepts.
We all, dear colleagues, are here as politicians to form the general social conditions. We should thereby include the broad social discourse. But you, Frau Chancellor, decide only between black and white, and in that you believe yourself always to be right. You and your Federal government set yourselves apart from parliamentary democracy.
Saskia Esken (SPD): [****]
The members of this sovereign house first learned in the
press on Tuesday midday of which preventative measures the Minister-presidents
had agreed on. It appeared, as if in a film scenario, that these on the
following day were merely passed through with a wink.
Apropos a film scenario, Herr Finance Minister…Who pays the
ever new bills for the purchased assistance? It is again – I can say it to you –
the worker, the Mittlestand, and the
small handworker – today, tomorrow and in the future. It is to me really
inexplicable how a Social Democrat can be so unsozial towards the workers. One thing is certain: Europe, which
you hold so dear, you thereby permanently damage.
Herr Linnemann, as chairman of the CDU’s Mittlestand association, you have in the
last years correctly shown: The Mittlestand
requires planning security. How do you explain the decisions of your party to the merchants, the firms
and the trades? Does the social market economy
still at all play a role in your thought and action?
In regards the setting aside of the insolvency obligation
until March 31, 2021, there are meanwhile said to be over 800,00 businesses
which in some way will be artificially kept alive. How do you plan to forestall
that, Herr Economy Minister?...Herr Altmaier, a successful business requires
capital, customers, sales and courage. How do you actually want to motivate old
and new firms to persevere? For me as a businessman, motivation is the driving
force. On your guarantees, to the contrary, – you have shown that – should one
who is self-employed not rely.
Worthy cabinet members, for you, who or what is actually
system-relevant? And with what means do you support these people; for example,
the skilled medical personnel who work for years and today, completely
under-staffed, shall guarantee the implementation of your disproportionate
preventative measures?
Herr Brinkhaus, you have today x-times said thanks. The
people are full to the limit with “thanks”. My proposal: Finally fashion a
relief whereby the system-relevant personnel in all branches shall be
immediately freed of the wage tax [Lohnsteuer].
I guarantee you: These people do not hold on to the money. They do not take it to
a tax haven. They will immediately again expend it in our own country. For they
need it to finance their living expenses and to support their families. With
such measures, you would demonstrate a true bond with the people.
Frau Chancellor, one thing I must grant you: You appear to enforce your will without conditions.
Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens): That would be nice!
Yet your actions have produced insecurity and angst among the people of our country. Corona has not put this country into a deep depression; that was you, Frau Chancellor, you with your policy which you regard as being without alternative.
Michael Grosse-Bömer (CDU/CSU): And still the refugees!
Claudia Roth (Greens-Augsburg): Exactly! Still the refugees!
Yet what does that actually have to do with the welfare of
the German people? Is that not simply a dubious attempt to maintain one’s own
power? And will you actually be right to claim to lead this country? You really
should ask yourself that.
Many thanks.
[trans: tem]
