German politics should respect Biden - further preparations for Trump's victory
The 81-year-old Biden declared on Sunday, in the face of massive doubts about his mental and physical fitness, that he would not be running for a second term as president. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) paid tribute to Biden on Sunday evening as a friend and "reliable partner" of Germany. "His decision not to run again deserves recognition," Scholz wrote in the Onlinedienst X. Thanks to Biden, "transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong, and the USA is a good and reliable partner for us."
Vice-Government Spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann then on Monday declined to comment on the US election campaign. "We are preparing for all conceivable possibilities," she said. It is now necessary to wait and see if Vice President Kamala Harris will be officially nominated as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate and how the election against the Republican Trump in November will unfold.
Scholz has already "met Harris several times," Hoffmann said in response to many inquiries. She named the Munich Security Conference and the Ukraine Peace Conference in June in Switzerland. The Chancellor got to know Harris there as an "experienced and competent politician."
Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) expressed deep respect for Biden's decision to retire. He wrote on Instagram that Biden had spent "half a century fighting for democracy, for the country, for the people."
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) stated at the EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Brussels that Biden puts his country's interests above his own. Independent of the outcome of the US presidential election, it is clear: "We must invest more in our own security, Europe must be stronger." This applies "particularly in the areas of foreign, security, and defense policy."
The Transatlantic Coordinator of the German Government, Michael Link (FDP), described Biden's retirement as a "deep turning point" for Germany and Europe. "There was probably never before a US president who took the EU institutions and the 'old' continent as a whole so seriously from his own commitment," Link told the "Tagesspiegel." Link also emphasized that Biden's retirement "changes nothing for the preparation of the German government for the US election" at first. The government is "intensively preparing for both scenarios."
There is now a "chance that the race is open" between Trump and the Democrats, said Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) on Deutschlandfunk. As a Social Democrat, Heil naturally supports the Democrats.
Heil is currently in the USA. SPD Party Chairman Lars Klingbeil is traveling to the Democrats' party convention in Chicago in August, as the party confirmed in a report by the "Rheinische Post." The visit was already planned earlier.
Tributes to Biden also came from the conservative opposition: "Joe Biden has served the American people for more than five decades," wrote CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz on X. His decision deserves "greatest respect." CSU Chairman Markus Soeder emphasized on X that Biden had "done a lot for his country, NATO, and Europe." His retirement from the campaign was "the right decision."
- Despite Biden's announcement of not running for a second term, there are still doubts about the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, which could be Vice President Kamala Harris.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has met with Harris several times, viewings her as an "experienced and competent politician."
- Scholz praised Biden's role in strengthening transatlantic cooperation, making the USA a reliable partner for Germany.
- Vice-Government Spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann declined to comment on the US election campaign, focusing on preparing for all possibilities.
- Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged Europe to invest more in its security, regardless of the US election outcome.
- The Transatlantic Coordinator of the German government, Michael Link, described Biden's retirement as a significant turning point for Germany and Europe.
- The retirement of Biden doesn't affect the German government's preparations for the US election, as it is intensely planning for both potential victors, Trump and Democrats.
- Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, currently in the USA, acknowledged the opportunity for an open race between Trump and the Democrats, expressing his support for the Democrats as a Social Democrat.
- SPD Party Chairman Lars Klingbeil is scheduled to attend the Democrats' party convention in Chicago in August, having planned the visit before Biden's announcement.
- German politicians from the conservative opposition, including CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz and CSU Chairman Markus Soeder, showed respect for Biden's service to the American people and country.
- The departure of Biden from the campaign was considered a wise decision by the conservative opposition leaders.
- The US Election will significantly impact the relationship between the European Union and the United States of America, including NATO, involving all national political parties, including the SPD and the conservative opposition.
- As a reliable partner, the Federal government of Germany, under the leadership of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and prospective US-President Joe Biden or his successor, will continue to navigate the nuances of Politics with utmost respect and collaboration with the United States of America.
