The leader of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), Lars Klingbeil, has expressed surprise at recent statements made by Bundestag President Julia Klöckner of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Speaking to the Funke Media Group newspapers, Klingbeil, who also serves as Vice Chancellor, stated he was taken aback by Klöckner’s comparison of the right-leaning online publication “Nius” with the left-leaning daily newspaper “taz”. He suggested that Wolfgang Schäuble, a former Bundestag President, would not have made such a comparison.
Klöckner made the remarks while attending a summer festival hosted by the CDU in Koblenz, held on the premises of businessman Frank Gotthardt. Gotthardt is a financial backer of “Nius”. Reports indicate Klöckner drew a parallel between the two publications during her address.
When asked if he would support Klöckner again, Klingbeil indicated he has outstanding questions for her, suggesting he would prefer to address them directly in a conversation.