Joachim Wundrak, January 14, 2022, Bundeswehr in Iraq

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/12, p. 781.

Frau President. Thank you for the word and the friendly introduction. – Frau Minister Baerbock. Frau Minister Lambrecht. Ladies and gentlemen.

We all in this house certainly agree that decisions for a mission of the armed forces require especial care so that these do not infringe upon not only the protection of the soldiers committed but also upon constitution and international law.

As was already heard, ISIS in 2014 assumed control over a large territory in Iraq and in Syria. Since the beginning of 2015, Germany supports the fight against ISIS by means of the training and equipment of Iraqi armed forces. Following the terror attacks in Paris in November 2015, Germany decided to also support the International Alliance against ISIS by means of the commitment of military aircraft. Like some here in house, I still remember the heated discussions over the international legal evaluation after combat aircraft were put into action over Syria, naturally without the invitation of the Syrian government. Out of consideration for international law, the AfD delegation has thus rejected previous motions.

Yet the Green delegation also – we have already heard it – voted against this mission and went even distinctly further in their criticism. Their present State Secretary Frau Minister Baerbock designated the previous mandate as illegal. I indeed do not know whether it originates in international law, but there was criticism that one cannot clearly and distinctly read in the United Nations resolution that a mission in Syria was justified. The mission also does not correspond to the guidelines of the Federal Constitutional Court. It is in fact the sole foreign mission of the Bundeswehr in a coalition which does not take place within the scope of the EU, NATO or the United Nations.

The “Islamic State” meanwhile controls, unlike in 2015, no more territory in Iraq and in Syria. The infringement of Syrian air space is thus today still more difficult to justify than at that time. The Minister nevertheless requests in her motion today a vote in favor so that the Bundeswehr can continue to support the air missions of other states over Syria. This, according to your motions, shall occur by means of air refueling, air space surveillance, reconnaissance and the passing along of acquired information. The disgruntlement concerning this stirred up in your delegation and in the SPD is understandable. On the other hand, the mandate for the training of Iraqi armed forces, in any case included in your motion, is fundamentally sensible and agreeable. We also welcome the intention, repeatedly demanded by us, of a successive evaluation of the mission. You should not combine into one motion and into one mandate these two missions based on fully distinct international law – on one side, training; on the other side, a fight against ISIS by armed means.  

You should give the parliament the opportunity to advise on two separate mandates, as was once demanded by the FDP. This would also build a bridge to many parliamentarians in your delegation and in the SPD – an SPD which indeed already today plans for the withdrawal from the mandate in nine months.

To make it brief: The AfD delegation cannot agree to your motion in this form.

I am grateful for your attention.

 

[trans: tem]

 

Frank Rinck, January 14, 2022, Farming

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/12, p. 743.

Many thanks. Frau President. Valued colleagues.

The agriculture is stuck in one of the worst crises of all times: Prices which do not cover costs, considerably more expensive leases, farmer bashing, excessive fertilizer prices and much too much bureaucracy. As a farmer, I can say to you: For all the rest of the afternoon, I could tell of yet other things.

To the matter at hand. At the entry into office, the new Federal government and those responsible to the Chancellor spoke of the Great Transformation. For my part, I can only hope that at the end of this Great Transformation does not stand the end of our domestic agriculture.  

As last year the global supply chains came undone on account of the Corona virus, we saw, honorable colleagues, how susceptible are our supply chains and our economy worldwide. I certainly do not want to imagine in this place what would happen in this country if toilet paper and food were lacking in the stores. I ask you all for once to consider it.

For this reason, I can only admonish you to support the farmers, to strengthen their operations and to offer them a reasonable, economic perspective so as to secure the provisioning of our population in Germany. Turn away from the import craze and come back to the standard of “Made in Germany”, especially in regards to food! We will thereby gladly help you to create standards that take care for this, that work well with our farmers here in Germany, that enable them to produce quality, high-value and regional food without being pushed to the edge of ruin. Reasonable, crop-oriented fertilizer and an appropriate crop protection would be the necessary foundation stones fitting for this, just as fitting as planning security and guarantees for the farmers which still pay tomorrow for today’s investments.

I then need say one thing: We have previously heard some contributions regarding the swinekeepers and the prices. Ladies and gentlemen, we have unfortunately heard nothing of the African swine flu which here spreads ever further. There are nevertheless only sporadic preventive measures against this expansion. This threatens the swinekeepers throughout Germany. But good, so much on that.

Yet again on the ranchers [Weidetierhaltern]: We heard that we want to make the stalls nicer. But just for once let us begin with protecting our livestock, protecting against predators like the wolves! At best, let us lighten the burden of proof for cases of laceration [Rissvorfällen], or overturn it completely so that these ranchers also have a future which you here, ja, apparently just do not want to take into consideration.

Ideology was never a good counselor and it certainly is also not in regards the topic of wolves.

The theme of species variety we have also heard of here today. It is naturally very interesting that here we breed predatory animals which then subsequently feed on production animals [Nutztiere]. 

– Frau President, I have the time in view; I am almost done.

Last but not least, a few words on what was previously decided on here by the government and which also was absolutely negative for the German farmer: The reduction of the value-added tax assessment rate which was reduced from 10.7 to 9.5 percent. That was an absolute hit for general agricultural operations. This decision this year costs the farmers 90 million euros which the Federal government itself has quickly pocketed. Many thanks for that to the government, and from me as a farmer!

– A last sentence, then I am done. Herr Minister Özdemir, we will measure you by your actions. Create better future perspectives! We will thereby naturally support you. A sly, old country proverb says: As the farmer lives, so lives the country.

Many thanks.

 

[trans: tem]

 

 

 

Joana Cotar, January 13, 2022, Digitalization

German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/11, pp. 667-668.

Frau President. Valued colleagues.

Before I come to the actual theme, a brief, personal remark of my own: The ostracism of the non-vaccinated in the Bundestag as practiced since this week and outside in the society must come to an immediate end. This has nothing but absolutely nothing more to do with healthcare, but is pure chicanery and branding of the non-vaccinated. That healthy people in Germany can no longer normally live and work is a disgrace, ladies and gentlemen.  

Before the excitement here becomes too great – I know, you can make little of freedom – I come to the actual theme of my speech, to the digitalization plans of the Ampel coalition. The new government has proposed much for the next four years – many promises, fine-sounding phrases. We already know all of that from the last four years, and that was with the SPD in the government.

The scientific council of the Economy Ministry in its opinions comes to the conclusion that Germany during the last government has fallen behind many other OECD countries in regards construction of the digital infrastructure as well as in regards an implementation of digital technology and service providers. We thus have not even been able to maintain our standard; we have fallen behind. Yet now all should be better. There are now finally new coalition partners. The network construction will be driven forward, the administration will finally be digitalized. More should be researched, more will be done for the cyber-security. Buzz words like AI, block chain and crypto currency are naturally not allowed to be lacking. In brief: Almost everything which can be wished for in the area of digitalization shall be advanced. That sounds good. It is bitterly necessary.  

Yet let us look again at how believable this is, and let us cast a glance at the parties which make these promises, primarily the FDP which in the last electoral period here really played up and down with the theme of digitalization. One of their central demands was the creation of a digital ministry, a coordinating department which has oversight and manages digitalization in Germany. And what did not come out of this legislative period? A digital ministry. Instead of this, Minister Wissing now concerns himself with digital and transportation. Yet even here are not all digital themes in the house. Thus for example was the gaming area out-sourced and subordinated in the Economy Ministry. The Interior Ministry is responsible for the administrative digitalization, and anyway even the Environment Ministry is also involved. We may still wait a few years for a homogenous digital policy.

What is it with the themes of freedom and privacy on the internet? The protection of these was ever again demanded by the FDP in the legislative period. In that regard, the FDP was always quite open to the abolition of the Internet Enforcement Act [NetzDG] which we of the AfD have always welcomed. That was nevertheless before taking part in the government. After Marco Buschmann then became Justice Minister, he emphasized in one of his first statements that the NetzDG is mandatory, self-evidently also applies to Telegram and that he wants to more rigorously control the messaging service, candidly according to the motto: What do I care about my empty talk of yesterday?

How you of the FDP so quickly capitulate, the word “liberal” cannot quite express, valued colleagues. Whether NetzDG, vaccination obligation, debts-making or 2G – for your ministerial posts you have broken not only central election promises but have straightaway betrayed freedom.  

The Greens who in the last year demanded transparency before all in the Digital Committee, rejected this yesterday. And the SPD? Nancy Faeser’s first statement on digital policy was that she wants to first concern herself with hate and agitation on the internet.

Thus, all that is old is new with the Ampel, ladies and gentlemen. Did you figure we shall now accept the promise that you seriously mean and manage it with digitalization? It would be nice. But, with permission, I’ld sooner believe the resume of Frau Baerbock.

Hearty thanks.

 

 

[trans: tem]