German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 21/34, pp. 3648-3651.
Right honorable Frau President. Right honorable ladies and gentlemen. Dear countrymen.
The last days have shown: A wise Politik contributes to a balance of interests and to a strengthening of the common interest in peace. Herr Chancellor, the strivings for peace in the Gaza war have hopefully brought home to you that it pays to invest in diplomacy and negotiation. Both in Germany and within the European Union is sought to implement the solution of conflicts and wars with sanctions, weapons deliveries and war rhetoric.
In this regard, I need to tie in the war in the Ukraine. And here also there needs be rapid solutions sufficient for a peace in Europe. Why cannot it also be your duty, Herr Merz, to step forward as a mediator between the Ukraine and Russia? That would be suitable for the office of the German Chancellor.
And you should finally stop continually formulating new threat situations, even so as colleague Hardt has done yesterday here in his speech, without being able to deliver sufficient evidence for that.
Dirk Wiese (SPD): Who then has again written that down for you? The Russian embassy, or what? You stand for capitulation!
You are always quite sure that it must have been Russia, Herr Wiese, as in regards Nord Stream. I thereby recall just the drone debate. Friedrich Merz in a talkshow assumed [vermutete] drones in German air space.
Dirk Wiese
(SPD): Help! That is transcribed just so!
Herr Chancellor, to this day you could put forward not a single proof or evidence.
Putting citizens into a panic, you nevertheless have done. Precisely that, Herr Wiese and Herr Merz, is irresponsible. You polarize, and with your political discourse regress to the time of the Cold War.
Steffen Bilger (CDU/CSU): Do you contest the drone over-flights?
Dirk Wiese
(SPD): You want to sell the country to Russia! That is what your party does!
Success worthy of the name for peace and the German people, Herr Chancellor, you clearly do not have on your side. Otherwise, you perhaps might have sat according to protocol in the first row in Egypt.
The current Federal government behaves with similar carelessness at home. Allow me as lobbyist of the skilled trades to here select one point from the sozial area. This, so it appears, is indeed less controversial, yet is an absolutely more destructive compromise from the government coalition, namely the active pension, as you name it. With the decision to take into consideration only those employees with social insurance mandates, numerous pensioners may not even participate. That is a clear violation of the equal treatment principle.
I speak of many of thousands of self-employed, as for example the many tradesmen who have worked in individual or small firms, in family businesses. Precisely those who have pursued work with social insurance obligations should continue to pay social duties on the additional income. Since the tradesmen who were and are self-employed shall clearly not be able to earn 2,000 euros tax-free. That is unjust, that is shabby, and before all you divide the pensioners.
You primarily confirm with these measures one picture: The pensions are plainly not sufficient. On cannot thus live from the pension in the twilight of life. Frau Bas, your request is on that account scarcely sozial or democratic. It is dishonest to again leave the pensioners alone to bear the cost for the political failures of the Federal government. Therefore: Were you to honestly mean it, you would demand of all of us to agree to the abolition of double taxation of old age pensions.
Ladies and gentlemen, by whom have you in the Federal government actually been advised? Is there no one there who can comprehend the cares and wishes of the old and young? The pensioner should continue to work. The young are thereby allowed to bear still more costs and excessive debts. They also, with the obligatory service, shall be made into the combat-ready weapons while war still reigns in Europe.
I hope that many citizens today have also heard the speech of Jens Spahn; since he made clear what the conscription for him is primarily about: For sending those obliged to serve against Russia to the front.
Alexander Hoffmann (CDU/CSU): Ach, rubbish, what you are telling! My goodness!
Steffen Bilger (CDU/CSU): Of what are you speaking here actually?
Precisely that, we do not want. That, we will never permit, Herr Hoffmann.
Alexander
Hoffmann (CDU/CSU): You are telling stories, Herr Chrupalla, stories!
Beyond that, our children need come to terms with increasing criminality in schools, on the streets. All of that is a situation which you expect of us after 35 years of German unity. You governed for so long, Herr Hoffmann. You are co-responsible for that.
Valued colleagues of the Greens, you should so slowly make your appearance in your role in the opposition. When I look at your resolution motion for today’s daily order, I note: You have still not understood the signs of the time.
Britta
Haßelmann (Greens): We require no tutoring from you!
You want to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent, standing there. Apparently you never really re-evaluated the botched government time of the Ampel with Herr Habeck or Frau Baerbock, otherwise it would have come even to you that the German citizens now really have enough of your Politik. Your Green trash was voted out, Frau Haßelmann.
With your so-called climate neutrality, you really mean de-industrialization and loss of prosperity for the broad population – your consulting firms naturally excepted. To you, the energy security in Germany is all the same, like a concept of who should actually pay for the Green utopia. We too stand for the protection of nature, yet see humanity as a part of that. And for this part, we make Politik.
Since to whom is it of use when Europe stands there as a climate-neutral yet economically weak continent? Precisely those who then can sell their technologies to us because we no longer have our own industrial and development venues. That is not in the German and also not in the European interest.
We expect much more of Chancellor Merz, that he stands up for Made in Germany, has concepts developed which let us again become a strong and reliable partner in Europe and worldwide. For that, we require leg room and less regulation, an attractive infrastructure and, before all things, finally advantageous energy prices.
Those are the priority duties with which the Politik has to concern itself, all of us here in common in the German Bundestag. Behind the interests for Germany and its citizens, all members need to be able to gather. Hide and seek behind the firewall does not belong to that.
President
Julia Klöckner: Herr member, do you permit an interim question from member Herr Wiese?
Please, Herr Wiese.
Dirk Wiese (SPD): Herr Chrupalla, many thanks that you permit the interim question. You said that the Federal government needs to invest in the infrastructure, in the future of this country. Thus I ask you quite openly – I have a further question – : Why have you then rejected the investment in the future of the country, the 500 billion euros which we invest in the infrastructure, in the schools, in the education of the country, so that the next generation finds an intact infrastructure? I have a second question. You have just comprehensively philosophized on what your visions and goals are. Yet I want to say one thing: The success of the German economy in the past years, decades, is in fact based on that we are embedded in the European Union, in the European internal market. The visions which you in your party program have mean to put the axe to the European unification, means the exit from the European Union. Do you agree with me: “If you do that, you actually need to rename yourself: AfD is like Arbeitslosigkeit für Deutschland”?
Herr Wiese, perhaps to begin with a remark on your last sentence. As to the AfD, we will and cannot agree with the SPD on many points – and certainly not with the previous one. And that we are thereby right is certainly also shown in the present election surveys. That is point one.
Alexander
Hoffmann (CSU/CSU): Do you have an argument for that, Herr Chrupalla?
Point two. On the budget. We have put forward an alternative budget – and it certainly distinguishes us – which is plainly not based on debts, which plainly does not force the children and the grandchildren into the debts orgy so as to pay those debts. We want – and this is the distinction for the SPD – that from the regular budget – we have put forward a corresponding budget – precisely those measures which you cited be paid for, and for that not to take up debts of 500 billion euros
Alice Weidel
(AfD): That certainly does not go to infrastructure; not a cent goes to infrastructure!
and, in part, 850 billion euros until the year 2029.
Dirk Wiese
(SPD): To invest in the future of the country! You want to throttle this country! Just say it!
That is unserious. That is before all things not sustainable. On this point, we differ massively. I am not yet done, Herr Wiese. I would gladly answer your second question which pertains to the economic situation.
Dirk Wiese
(SPD): You’ve already said a sentence on that.
Your sanctions policy, before all things, in the last three, four, years has led to that the German economy in this country can scarcely do industry, which, before all things, requires large quantities of energy, like the chemical industry or the steel industry, which emigrate. Have you actually been cognizant of what all is happening in this country? For that, you principally are responsible with your last Federal government and this Federal government.
It is thus important that we have good contacts to all European countries.
Dirk Wiese
(SPD): You want to get out of the European Union! That is your goal! Say that for once to the citizens!
Yes, we also need Russian gas because it is advantageous, because with it we would again have a price of 4 or 5 cents per kilowatt-hour for our businesses.
Dirk Wiese
(SPD): We do that, industrial electricity price!
Because energy is so expensive, on that account they emigrate. On that account, they go.
Dirk Wiese
(SPD): You grind down employee rights! That it is, what you do!
And, for that, you are responsible.
President
Julia Klöckner: I see the question as answered, and request you continue your speech.
Many thanks. I want to go into two points, Herr Merz, which you should thoroughly address at the European Council. I speak of the refusals of the Poles and Italians to deliver the presumed perpetrators who, with the assault on Nord Stream, have attacked our critical infrastructure. Again is thereby brought home to us that the Federal government was exactly so little aware of the seriousness of the situation as it is today; since the willingness for a clarification simply appears not to be at hand.
Or why do you commit yourself, Herr Merz – also on this not a word from you today – neither at the national nor at the European level to that the investigations of our General Federal Prosecutor be brought forward and the responsible perpetrators be punished with the full harshness of the law? It cannot be, Herr Merz, that supposed friends protect terrorists in Europe. Yes, now come again all the reasons why it is no longer wanted to buy gas from Russia. Yet it is not alone about that in this debate, Herr Spahn.
Jens Spahn
(CDU/CSU): Putin’s party!
It is about the interest of Germany – which has been mislaid by all of you – about the interests of individual citizens, of the Mittelstand and, before all things, of the industry.
Jens Spahn
(CDU/CSU): You should make a Russia insignia for yourself!
It is these which need pay the price for that through the high costs of energy, even so as for the cost of the inflation. German business invested 4 billion euros in the Nord Stream pipelines so they receive advantageous gas for our industry and the Mittelstand. You have destroyed all of that.
For the emigration of those creating value, you have to take responsibility, Herr Chancellor. With all understanding that you have taken up a really heavy inheritance for that: You were cognizant and could know that your “autumn of reform”, as you announced it, will not be one. We have not even a mild puff of wind. The Mittelstand, of which here in this country much is always spoken, dies not easily, as I recently needed to read in a newspaper. This Mittelstand dies loud. If you by now still have not heard the shot, then I am really sorry for you. Then you are not the parties which make Politik for Germany.
And still one sentence on Nord Stream. Here, it is also about namely the fundamentals. Should the presumed actors not be transferred, and you wait that out, you automatically invite an imitation. So far, by failure to implement applicable law were the domestic security and our social system endangered. Yet now here also the legal institutions are hindered. That needs to be solved politically.
At the European Council, approach your Polish and Italian office partners. I still proceed on the basis that it is in the interest of the Poles and Italians to clarify this assault.
Many hearty thanks.
[trans: tem]
