Germany’s Chancellor Candidate Friedrich Merz has accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of using the Ukrainian aid as a political ploy to sway public opinion. “I find it irresponsible that, apparently, a domestic political game is being played with the people of Ukraine” the CDU politician said.
The CDU’s parliamentary group vice-chairman, Johann Wadephul, described Scholz’s new approach as a “low point” in the current election campaign. The Chancellor is trying to divert the economic concerns of many people away from the necessary solidarity with Ukraine, Wadephul claimed.
While SPD politicians have expressed a willingness to reach an agreement before the federal election, they have insisted on a resolution that would allow for the aid to be funded from a separate budget. Chancellor Scholz, on the other hand, has called for the expenses to be covered from a separate fund.
In response to the accusation of slowing down further aid for Ukraine, Scholz said that tough negotiations would be necessary if the military support package, the largest from a NATO ally, were to be confirmed in the coming days.
“I had suggested expanding the [military aid] at some point” Scholz said during his election campaign tour this week. “But if you do that, you also have to say where the money comes from.” Scholz, whose Social Democratic Party (SPD) is currently polling at 15% in third place, emphasized that he is against cuts to pensions, local government financing, and infrastructure investments, only to bring more weapons to Kiev.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) warned of the consequences of the ongoing dispute. “The Federal Republic as a whole is not being seen as a driver of peace politics in Europe” the Green politician said in an interview with the Politico podcast Playbook Berlin.
Scholz rejected the indirect accusation made by Baerbock, saying, “Who’s just hanging their flag in the wind, I’ll let that pass undiscussed.” At the same time, he confirmed that he would only agree to additional weapon deliveries if the debt brake were to be suspended.