The Chairman of the European Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag, Anton Hofreiter (Greens), has sharply criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for his course on the 3 billion-euro aid package for Ukraine. “The Federal Republic of Germany has a budget of 480 billion euros, and it’s bizarre to claim that for 3 billion, the debt brake has to be suspended” the Green politician said in the RTL and ntv program “Frühstart” on Tuesday.
It’s “completely bizarre” to accuse Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), and “almost the entire budget committee of lying” Hofreiter said. “I don’t know in which world Mr. Scholz lives now.” While one must eventually set the debt brake aside, “I don’t think one can take that seriously for 3 billion.”
In the face of the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, the Green politician called for European unity. “Europe is much, much stronger if it presents itself united and self-assured, than it gives itself credit for” he said. “That’s why it’s so fatal that Olaf Scholz always signals weakness in all directions, and this quarrel over the 3 billion for more air defense for Ukraine is so embarrassing.”
The Federal Republic of Germany has the money, and it’s necessary, Hofreiter continued. Scholz is not only showing weakness towards Putin, but also towards the US, he said. “That’s also a fatal signal, signaling this massive weakness in the direction of Trump.