Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has come under criticism for pledged her support for Ukraine – regardless of the opinion of voters in Germany. The AfD and the left accused the Green politician of disregarding the will of the voters. Criticism also came from the CDU, on Twitter
The Chancellor himself, on the other hand, jumps to the side of his Foreign Minister. It is the task of the federal government to “advertise for the politics that you represent, even in times when there is headwind,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday in Berlin. “The Chancellor is very close to the Foreign Minister and all other ministers.”
In these turbulent times, which also bring hardships for many people, you have to understand that people might see politics differently. “But it’s still clear that you stick to your principles and stick to what you think is right,” said Hebestreit. Baerbock made it clear “that you (…) don’t fall over even in a headwind”. This was a bit short in the snippet of the video.
According to the Federal Foreign Office, the criticism was promoted by pro-Russian disinformation.
“The classic: a video edited together to create meaning, boosted by pro-Russian accounts and the instant cyber court is ready, ready-made disinformation,” Peter Ptassek, Ministry Commissioner for Strategic Communications, wrote on Twitter on Thursday. “Are we going to split up so cheaply? I don’t think so.” His tweet was shared by the Federal Foreign Office’s official Twitter channel.
The reason was statements that Baerbock had made the day before at a panel discussion in Prague. There the minister explained in English that she had promised the Ukrainians to support them for as long as necessary and that she therefore wanted to deliver – regardless of what her German voters think about it (“no matter what my German voters think”). .
AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel then accused Baerbock of not caring about the citizens. “Not I say, but she herself. And thus admits that the
The CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen wrote on Twitter of “sham heroism” because the majority of Germans were ready to support Ukraine. “Democratic politicians must try to convince others with good arguments and not with basta.”
During the Prague discussion, however, Baerbock also warned of a split in western democracies. In this context, she assured that she stands in solidarity with the people in Germany as well as with the people in Ukraine.
A cheap public transport ticket for the whole country and a significant tax cut for fuel expire on Thursday. At German petrol stations, prices are skyrocketing: diesel sometimes costs more than 2.40 euros. In the past two weeks, prices have continued to rise.
The airport chaos in Germany should pick up speed again. Lufthansa pilots are on strike on Friday, September 2nd. According to the “Vereinigung Cockpit” union, the reason for this is failed collective bargaining. All important developments at the airports here in our new ticker.
