Katrin Ebner-Steiner, December 15, 2020, Pandemic

Bavarian Landtag, Plenarprotokoll 18/67, pp. 33-35.

Dear citizens, Herr President, right honorable ladies and gentlemen.

Herr Söder, we are the voice of the Bavarian citizens who have not been in agreement with your Corona policy.

Among these are many CSU members and voters who presently turn away from your party; since you in this pandemic have definitely lost control; control over a moderate analysis, control over the course of this so-called pandemic, control over reality. On that account, you now require a big diversionary manoeuvre: The second lockdown. It simulates resolution and an ability to act, at the same time it is primarily a testimony of a lack of planning and loss of control and even of helplessness.

You have squandered sums in the millions for senseless mass tests – money which would have been better expended on protection of at-risk groups. My grandmother of more than 90 years and all at-risk patients here in Bavaria wait at home for the pretentiously promised FFP2 masks.

            Thomas Kreuzer (CSU): Then drop one off, Frau Ebner-Steiner!

A greater part of those people simply do not live in old-age or care homes.These people were by you left alone at home with the risk of infection and, in the truest sense of the word, left behind. Not every grandmother and not every grandfather has a caring granddaughter; and we must also be there for them, Herr Kreuzer.

I know many women in the city and country who must survive on a pension of 450 euros. The average pension of women in Germany amounts to exactly 711 euros; with that, an FFP2 mask cannot be purchased every day. Many of these women have raised children; they have built this country; they deserve to be treated with respect.

Herr Söder, you speak of empathy and sympathy, yet your actions speak a different language. To this day, you have undertaken nothing to systematically and actually protect our seniors. You now stumble from one lockdown to the next, always of the same primitive design: Forbid, forbid and yet again forbid …Your entire Corona policy is based on the foundation of a dubious testing policy.

In the medical sense is to be distinguished between infection and colonization. Not every micro-organism detected by means of a PCR test also indicates an infection. I want to give you an example: In the human body there is a whole series of defensive barriers against micro-organisms, and only when these barriers are overcome, as in tonsillitis, is there an infection present. The PCR test alone is not proof of an infection. Exactly that is in the package insert of this test.

Right honorable ladies and gentlemen, it is high time to scrutinize your Corona policy’s basis of decision and the preventative measures resulting therefrom.

Herr Söder, your ministers and members have recently shown in the Landtag restaurant what they think of your Corona preventative measures. Ministers Sibler and Schreyer sat with three other CSU members and thus five were at one table. That was an inexcusable violation of the contact limitations. You preach water and drink wine. That is political hypocrisy.

Dear esteemed Herr colleague Kreuzer, mind your own business, instead of continually thrashing the AfD. Do your household chores. As before, you give a wide berth to the making of a long-term strategy. Instead, you now completely confine us citizens. Reasonable, rational analysis is plainly not the State government’s thing. You lack every understanding of the countless livelihoods which you have annihilated, of the businesses which you drive to ruin. Here also I readily give you an example: My good friend of many years must at the end of the year give up her clothing store which she has run successfully for over 25 years. As a single mother with two children, she really has the test of a lifetime. Yet your preventative measures have irretrievably withdrawn from her the foundation of a lifetime.

It is thus so that not everyone can earn money with a face shield. The citizens’ discontent with the so-called Corona preventative measures is as great as never before, primarily amongst the young people. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds deny support to the government. The receipt you receive in the streets, since from this loss of reality follows the loss of the trust of we citizens. Herr Söder, before all, no one wants to listen to you. Your continual angst propaganda, your endurance talks; ever fewer citizens believe you.

Before all, you are afraid to tell the citizens the bare truth. You must say to them: Hitherto, the measures simply have not worked. The billions were uselessly wasted and many livelihoods were ruined – yet you prefer to further deceive the people. There was from the beginning one thing that ought to have been done; namely, to close the borders and to offer tests; yet for the migrants, the borders stood and stand wide open.

But I also must ask the other opposition parties: Why was our constructive proposal thrown out as a whole?

We had demanded an investigating committee, and primarily put forward the institution of a commission of inquest with proven experts. Bavaria would thereby be able to be made crisis-proof.

We risk much with your Corona and lockdown policy. It is about our economic future, our common life, our free society.

Here in parliament you squeeze the tear ducts and yourselves act cold as ice. After all the exertions of the last weeks and months, you now also destroy even the Christmas business which for some can amount up to 50% of a year’s revenues. For example, in the ski business. Herr Söder, you now also close the ski areas in an autocratic manner, because skiing is simply not beloved by Crown Prince Marcus. Now we roll into a gigantic wave of bankruptcy.

It is similarly bad in the hotel and restaurant business and in numerous other branches. Yet you set the crown on the whole; for from you the potent and patronizingly promised assistance does not at all arrive at the firms, or too late or not in sufficient quantity, as has been ascertained by the president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Gabriel Felbermayr. Small and mid-sized operations were sacrificed to your obtuseness and desire for recognition, and only a few global great concerns profit from your clear cutting policy, while many people in this country no more know how they shall continue financially. That is your sad balance, Herr Söder.

Allow the people to again do their work in a regime of sensible hygiene measures. Permit to retail trade, schools and kindergartens their regular operation again and finally re-open the hotels and restaurants. And before all: Immediately stop all planning which upsets the population and allows hasty vaccination, until the risks and side-effects of vaccination are known and the question of liability for vaccination damages is clarified! The people of Bavaria are not your test rabbits! It is here about people’s lives, and not about, by means of mass testing, diverting from the failures of the previous Corona policy.

May God protect the Bavarian citizens and our land.

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

 

Jörg Meuthen, December 16, 2020, EU Council

European Parliament, Brussels, P9 CRE-PROV (2020) 12-16 (3-034-0000).

Frau President, honorable colleagues.

The German Chancellor, following last week’s EU Council summit, proudly said that it was worth it not to sleep. Looking at the results of that shameful night, I can only call out to her: “Frau Merkel, it would be better if you had gone to bed early!”

The states of Europe suffer under the pandemic, yet at least as much so under, in many places, a catastrophic crisis management. Europe’s economy groans. Millions of workplaces are acutely endangered or already lost. Yet for that the heads of government have no other answer than to indiscriminately squander the taxpayers’ money – as always. Does then anyone seriously believe that the unbelievable 1.8 trillion euros of the MFR and building plan – this never hitherto known redistribution orgy – can in any way ameliorate this crisis?  

Nationalization and socialism were never yet a practical solution and this debt socialism will be just as little so. I most deeply regret that the EU, with a foul compromise, has nevertheless succeeded in wringing from Poland and Hungary a yes to this false way. With the so-called state of law mechanism, the EU centralists thus now have the ultimate instrument to bring to course, with harsh penalties, all those who do not share the left-green agenda of Brussels.

Concern yourself, dear Herr Roth, just for once with the state of law in Germany, before you reprimand Hungary and Poland – there would be something to do. And trouble yourself, Frau von der Leyen, perhaps just once for adherence to the European Treaty. I refer here especially to Article 125, AEUV.

And as if all that was not bad enough, the summit forces on Europeans new, completely absurd climate goals until the year 2030. Basically, the de-industrialization of Europe was decided on at the summit. Certainly in Germany, that very soon will become very noticeable. The winners will be the United States and, before all, China. Know that it was for the heads of state and government perhaps one sleepless night; yet millions of Europeans, who more than ever must fear for their future, their livelihood in the face of these disastrous decisions, stand before many a sleepless night.

 

[trans: tem]

 

Kay Gottschalk, December 16, 2020, Annual Tax Law

 German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 19/201, pp. 25263-25265.

Herr President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen.

That sure was great cinema, Herr Binding. You had spoken little of tax law. I can also understand why, in that regard, you must be blushing in the face. I will similarly go into that. You said, yes: Those who receive state aid shall gladly pay more taxes. That particularly concerns the employees; that I will similarly make plain in regards the theme of the progression proviso. That was clearly a K.O. count for the SPD.

But before I come to terms with the draft law, I might want to for once express my fundamental  criticism in the direction of the coalition: It is really going too far to present to us, five days before the Finance Committee’s concluding session, 42 re-prints of the coalition delegations

            Fritz Güntzler (CDU/CSU): We are fluent!

which shall partially amend highly complex matters of fact.

I do not consider that to be to the point and I also consider that to be bad dealing with the opposition and wish for a better treatment in the future. That really has something of ESM light, ladies and gentlemen.

Constructive work also naturally presupposes that the opposition can adequately come to terms with the intentions and alterations of your laws. That was for us – apart from the fact that that occurred in a budget week – really going too far. So again: I here wish for a more reasonable treatment in the future.

That we have so little time, only half an hour, for debate on the annual tax law with so many extensive amendments, – that also is a point of criticism, if it is considered on what points we here often speak for hours – I find that in this place to be somewhat inappropriate.

But now I really do come in this brief time to the amendments. There are a couple of good motions from the AfD. Dear employees, prick up the ears so that at the Bundestag election you really know who is concerned for your interests.  

            Heike Brehmer (CDU/CSU): Oye!

            Alexander Ulrich (Linke): Oye!

I may for once name your draft law, very catchy, a “Corona Tax Case Law”. Why is that so in regards this draft law, ladies and gentlemen? What is interesting is what unfortunately is not in this draft law. The Soli remains at the top. Let us look for once at what that now comes to for us in the way of the costs of Corona.  

I come to the AfD”s motion [Drucksache 19/25304] and before all to the theme of the progression proviso. You have plainly and clearly said, Herr Binding: He who receives help shall quietly pay. – That pertains especially to more than 4 million employees. Ladies and gentlemen, you of course know all that: The part-time employment funding is indeed tax-free; yet plainly not entirely. It is subject to the so-called progression proviso.

I can cite the DGB [German Trades Union Confederation] – which might be known to the SPD – :

            It is incomprehensible why the coalition in this situation leaves standing in the rain millions of employees who are receiving part-time employment funds. He who, with the part-time employment funds, has to submit to considerable income loss, should not also have to struggle with additional tax payments.

No less than Stefan Körzell says this, a board member of the DGB.

Ladies and gentlemen of the sovereign house, we, the AfD, have brought in a corresponding resolution motion so as to solve this problem for over 4 million part-time workers in Germany for the years 2020 and 2021. What do we want to change? First. We do not want the part-time employment funds for these years to be subject to the progression proviso. According to the income tax law, there are then of course supplementary payments to be reckoned with. I could now rejoice; for these will of course likely come into the hands of the people in August, shortly before the Bundestag election. Second: For the purpose of a simultaneous deconstruction of bureaucracy. And now in the Finance offices the champagne corks must be popping; since, beginning at 410 euros of part-time employments funds, income tax declarations are required. Long live this government’s bureaucracy, ladies and gentlemen.

A further fantastic motion of my delegation has been entered. All of you here speak of a Digitalization 4.0. The FDP is the service opposition for that. The CDU says: “We must bring forward the digitalization”, and you bring forward a lot of money. In the time of Corona, all speak of the home office. Only, what you all here are planning, Herr Binding – on which account you have likely spoken not so directly –  those are alms. 5 euros per day, a maximum of 600 euros, is what you want to grant to the people out there, who now sit in a home office, and then against the whole even reckon up the advertising costs.

Ladies and gentlemen, be guided here by the AfD’s motion [Drucksache 19/23725] in which is stated: Allow us to re-construct the situation which we had at the beginning of the 2000’s. A glance backwards often helps. Away with core theory and other things by which each man at home works or has a workroom and can counter-balance the real costs.That would be sozial, that would be fair, and that would also convey a digital future in so far as accounting is concerned, ladies and gentlemen.

            Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich: Done?

I come to a conclusion.

            Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich: You are already at a conclusion

It is a somewhat middling draft law of this government, because many good amendments are also in there.

            Vice-president Hans-Peter Friedrich: Herr Gottschalk!

On that account, we will abstain.

Many thanks.

 

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerold Otten, December 17, 2020, Armed Drones

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 19/202, pp. 25458-25459.

Herr President. Right honorable colleagues.

We have certainly heard an emotional speech. In the past months and years in many forums, the necessity of armed drones was discussed. The conclusion was represented, as has been heard, by a hearing in the Bundestag.

A few days ago however, the SPD notices that the previous debate might be too much confined to the protection of our soldiers. The war in Bergkarabach however now shows that armed drones are able to be used as offensive weapons, according to colleague Heinrich of the SPD.

Ladies and gentlemen, what you there deliver up, that is the SPD’s security policy declaration of poverty. You could exactly so reject tanks, corvettes and combat aircraft; since these also are offensive weapons, if you so desire.

For all that, this acknowledgment includes two remarkable aspects:

First. The Union now completely stumbles over its argument that this weapons system served only the protection of our soldiers on a mission.

            Tobias Pflüger (Linke): Yes, that is the fairytale that they tell the entire time!

Second. The SPD leadership here reveals a frightening degree of ignorance. Or is it cold, political calculation? I know not which is more worthy of scorn.

            Siemtje Möller (SPD): The AfD!

A year ago already in this place I predicted in theory what has occurred in Bergkarabach. Armed drones are effective means for the reconnaissance, surveillance and combating of opposition forces.The Azerbaijanis owe their victory to the ability to identify and precisely attack enemy positions and war equipment, even better than artillery or combat aircraft are able, provided a real air defense is lacking.  

I thus summed this up at that time – and it still goes for today – : Protection for our soldiers results solely by means of a reconnaissance and operations potential on the battlefield. And for that are armed drones naturally the suitable means of air war.

Yet all that shows: In the SPD delegation, there is not only a lack of expertise but every relation to reality has been lost, and that in the party which, with Helmut Schmidt or Georg Leber, presented renowned defense ministers to this country. Shame on you!

The SPD’s contortions can only be designated as schizophrenic. The day before yesterday, you declare yourselves against an arming of drones. Yesterday in the defense committee, you vote against a similar motion of the Linke party. This is surely a security policy wrong-way drive you are on here. Please explain that for once to our soldiers who you with your votes casually send on dangerous foreign missions to Afghanistan or Mali, those to whom you then however deny, according to partisan calculation, the means of defense against enemy attack.  

            Tobias Pflüger (Linke): It is not for that reason! But he does not understand that!

Ladies and gentlemen, the procurement of armed drones is a highly charged social topic. This alone clearly contradicts the thesis of a deficient public debate. The fact is: For more than a decade there has been a widespread campaign against armed drones driven forward by leftists and Greens and their comrades in conviction at the levers of publicized opinion.

The Union and the FDP knew already for more than ten years what is necessary; yet there governs here in the self-described political middle the fear, the fear of no longer being electable by a portion of a society mis-informed by the media and instrumentalized by party politics. For that reason was this decision postponed for more than a decade.

Now into the SPD again breaks the left lane. Mützenich’s and Borjans’s great fear is of being punished by the leftist voter clientele should a procurement of drones be agreed to. It is similarly so with the Greens: They also are victims of their own leftist and unworldly propaganda. And of much amusement, ladies and gentlemen of the Union, with your coming coalition partners.

How does it actually feel to have your heart’s defense project sunk by the SPD? And that, before all, against the background of you having fulfilled the SPD’s every wish in this legislative period, right up to the basic pension.

            Mechthild Rawert (SPD): Unfortunately not.

            Götz Frömming (AfD): Right up to self-abnegation.

Yet all that occurred to the chagrin of the Bundeswehr, its soldiers and the security of our country.

While many of our allied armed forces now operate these weapons systems, the Bundeswehr is now on the way to become a third-class army: Technically obsolete, materially looted, with a hollowed out personnel,

            Henning Otte (CDU/CSU): Yet you now again speak poorly of the Bundeswehr!

without ability to fight, not in a position to defend our home country. For that are you co-responsible.

            Henning Otte (CDU/CSU): You speak poorly of the Bundeswehr!

We therefore demand of the SPD to return to the course of Realpolitik, a course which a Helmut Schmidt would have sailed.

I thank you for your attention.

            Götz Frömming (AfD): A very good speech!

 

 

[trans: tem]