Merz and Scholz engage in a direct confrontation following a fruitless summit encounter
recently, the Ampel and Union factions have engaged in some fiery discussions in the Bundestag. However, following the failure of the asylum summit, the debate's tension has escalated further. The Federal Chancellor has called into question the sincerity of the CDU leader, Merz, who in retaliation, has accused Scholz of incompetence and managed to score a point through a strategic move.
During the general debate in the German Bundestag, the Union faction moved swiftly, causing a stir before the first speaker even took the floor. Instead of Merz himself, his deputy, the CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Dobrindt, took the stage. Shortly before the debate commenced, the Union switched up its list of speakers, strategically putting Dobrindt, their attack dog, up against Scholz. Merz, in turn, could respond to Scholz's speech and steer clear of Scholz's agitated tone with a cool demeanor.
The primary focus of debate in the Bundestag was whether Merz had already resorted to underhanded tactics during previous discussions. The day prior, the CDU chairman had announced the government's migration policy talks to be at an impasse following a brief exchange. Scholz accused Merz of manipulating the situation, stating, "You wrote a script two or three weeks ago, promising cooperation. And yet, you rejected it and said it was insufficient." Scholz further went on, "We cannot handle such a significant matter in this country using these tactics."
Merz erupted in anger, but his outburst was drowned out by the applause from the Ampel factions. Scholz took it a step further, seemingly provoked by Dobrindt's opening speech filled with harsh criticisms. "You're the type of politician who thinks you can solve the migration issue with an interview in 'Bild am Sonntag'," Scholz said to Merz. The Union's proposition to reject all migrants at Germany's borders was deemed untenable, Scholz said. "Allow me to break it down for you."
Scholz recalled the 1992 asylum compromise, where the SPD agreed to a constitutional amendment proposed by the opposition. "Leadership isn't about standing on a barricade, making demands with a wild gesture," Scholz said. "Leadership is about turning around and convincing your own people to reach a compromise. That's leadership, Mr. Merz." Despite this, the door to discussions remained open.
Scholz also outlined the steps taken by the federal government to reduce immigration and increase deportations of criminal or non-resident foreigners: implementing border controls, carrying out tens of thousands of deportations, expanding the list of safe countries of origin, reforming the EU's common asylum policy, increasing deportation detention times, granting additional police powers, and even recently, the deportation of convicted criminals to Afghanistan. "Instead of complaining that nothing has been accomplished," Scholz said, "it's you who isn't delivering any results!"
What enraged the Chancellor even further? Dobrindt accused the Ampel coalition of a "negative attitude" towards migration policy, at the expense of schools and internal security. "Those who demand leadership from you will only receive empty promises," Dobrindt said. The promised "green economic miracle" had turned into "green stagnation," Dobrindt claimed, pointing to the dismal economic forecasts of zero percent growth. "You promised a double win, but you delivered a double zero," Dobrindt accused Scholz. The Ampel coalition is creating "policies that go against the majority will of the citizens," Dobrindt said, subsequently explaining the rise in support for far-right parties like AfD and BSW.
When Merz finally stepped forward in sixth place, his heart rate appeared to be much lower. The presumed Union candidate for Chancellor attempted a subtle role reversal, speaking more calmly than Scholz, and began with a poignant reminder of the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States on the same day 23 years ago. He also introduced his migration policy section with a statesmanlike tone: "Germany must remain an open and welcoming country to foreigners." Merz dismissed accusations from the SPD and Greens that he was stirring up anti-immigrant sentiment for political gain. The issue, he asserted, lied with "a small minority - no more, no less - of mainly young men who refuse to abide by the rules that apply in this country." Scholz, meanwhile, showed little interest, visibly preoccupied with his phone.
Merz feels belittled
"The core of my proposals remains the temporary rejection of all asylum seekers at Germany's state borders, who should have filed their asylum applications in the first country they entered according to EU regulations." The Union will not engage in endless discussions about this issue, Merz said. "The claim that this was an insincere gesture on my part yesterday," Merz exclaimed, "this claim is malicious and unfair." So, maliciously unfair.
And because a general debate is about more than just this, Merz expanded his view further. The coalition is making the economic conditions for Germany worse with every decision they make. Economics Minister Robert Habeck is leading Germany towards a command economy, Merz said. After a Union government takes power, Germany will not be able to avoid participating in the construction of nuclear power plants in other EU countries. Private investors must be involved in financing infrastructure expansion, Merz added.
Regarding the so-called Draghi report on the EU's competitiveness, the Union won't budge on the idea of collective EU debt to stimulate the economy. Merz fiercely declared, "I'll do whatever it takes to prevent the EU from plunging into a debt trap." The FDP erupted in cheers and gleeful grins, with their leader Bijan Djir-Sarai visibly thrilled by the clarity. Djir-Sarai openly desires to reunite with the Union in power as soon as possible.
As Djir-Sarai took the stage, he cooed sweet nothings to the Union, almost as if the FDP wasn't a part of the federal government and hadn't just received criticism from the Union earlier. "We in the FDP are all for implementing these changes side by side with you," Djir-Sarai reassured the attendees from the CDU and CSU. "The current immigrant policy is placing an enormous strain on our nation."
FDP leader Christian Dürr held back from attacking the conservatives, but critiqued the collapse of asylum negotiations as a blunder. The government can only rectify its course in conjunction with the states, where both the CDU and CSU hold or share power. The goal: "It should be easier to come to Germany to work than to come to Germany and not work." The FDP speakers didn't even question the Union's allegations that outright rejections at Germany's external borders primarily failed due to the Greens' resistance.
Greens Lash Out at Merz, Mützenich Alludes to Solingen
However, the Greens can defend themselves, too. Faction leader Katharina Dröge emphasized that they've long advocated for the deportation of serious criminals and radical Islamists. This necessitates strengthening the police and authorities, about which "we would have loved to discuss with the Union in the now-abandoned working group."
Dröge accused Merz of disregarding internal security altogether. "But that doesn't offer any security whatsoever, not a single shred of it, if you attempt to pursue an election campaign with the fears of people following a terrorist attack, Mr. Merz. Just like you do." Merz's politics are "heartless" and "devoid of sense and reason" if he fails to distinguish between genuine asylum interests and abuse. Dröge deemed the blanket rejections proposal "ridiculous," stating that it would effectively render the European Union inoperable.
Also, SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich, who replaced the Chancellor as the calm SPD spokesperson, expressed doubts about the Union's strategy. "I'm not sure if they left the table on purpose from the get-go," Mützenich said. By walking away from the talks, Merz "has compromised democracy and possibly even himself," Mützenich said. "You can't govern this country with ultimatums and shaky proposals."
And then, the SPD faction leader, often lauded as a gentleman in the Bundestag, delivered a low blow. The Union "secretly knows: something went wrong under a CDU minister-president in North Rhine-Westphalia." Perhaps the Union is trying to deflect attention from the Solingen attack with its tactics. The perpetrator could have been returned to Bulgaria years ago. "We won't exonerate the responsible parties," Mützenich said. The SPD, unlike the Greens, doesn't govern in NRW and is not particularly enthusiastic about joining government coalitions with the CDU and CSU.
Weidel Bashes "Chancellor of Decline"
The AfD attended the general debate and zeroed in on migration. Faction leader Alice Weidel presented a slew of statistics on the extent of violence with knives and rapes, with a substantial share attributed to immigrants. She called for a temporary halt in immigration and the immediate expulsion of all immigrants who have committed crimes or don't have the right to stay.
Weidel leveled accusations of state failure against both the traffic light government and the Union, claiming that the AfD is unfairly targeted and its voters are barred from democratic participation because the AfD faction in the Bundestag is denied posts and no one wants to govern with them in the east. Scholz is a "Chancellor of Decline," Weidel declared.
During this legislative term, the AfD's role has inadvertently evolved into reminding other parties that there are worse political adversaries than those in the political center. Indeed, Merz and Scholz were spotted engaged in a lengthy conversation on the sidelines of the Bundestag plenary following their speeches. It appeared like a conversation between a Chancellor and an opposition leader, calm and serious, a situation Germany is yet to experience, even after three years of a traffic light government.
♪ Alice Weidel ♪ expressed her criticism of the Chancellor's migration policy during her speech, stating, ♪ I know ♪ that the current approach is failing to address the root causes of the issue.
In response to Dobrindt's accusations towards the Ampel coalition, Chancellor Scholz retorted, ♪ I know ♪ that the Union's proposal for blanket rejections at Germany's borders would be ineffective and would strain the European Union.
