Stegner: "The US would survive a Donald Trump as well"
With Kamala Harris, the U.S. Democrats are starting the presidential race with renewed vigor. However, not all guests on "Hart aber fair" consider the current Vice President to be the right candidate. For CDU foreign policy expert Röttgen, Germany is not sufficiently prepared for a Trump victory.
Can Kamala Harris take on Donald Trump? There was disagreement on this question on Monday evening's "Hart aber fair". The USA is ready for its first female president, journalist and author Alice Hasters is convinced. "It's not just a typical election between Republicans and Democrats, but we have a presidential candidate in Donald Trump who has become increasingly radicalized over the years," she says. "And it would be very tragic to say that the fact that Harris is a woman would stand in the way of her being elected."
"There's tension in the game again," says SPD politician Ralf Stegner. And CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen adds: "The race is open again." A lot is at stake for Germany, Europe, and the world. BSW party chair Amira Mohamed Ali would rather not say whom she would like to see as the new U.S. president: "We have to prepare for both scenarios." The German political world should also be clear about this.
Jörg Wimalasena, the political correspondent of the "Welt", shares this view. However, he considers Kamala Harris to be the wrong candidate. He describes her as completely politically arbitrary. At the last U.S. presidential election, at which she dropped out early, Harris first campaigned for the introduction of general health insurance, but later opposed it. She also criticized Joe Biden in an interview, accusing him of working with racist senators. Later, however, she wanted to be his vice president. "I believe this arbitrariness will continue," Wimalasena fears. Moreover, Harris focuses on issues that are very low on the list of priorities for the U.S. population, such as the right to abortion. "The priority is inflation," Wimalasena assesses the situation in the USA, where he has lived for several years. "People can no longer afford to go to the movies, fill up their cars, or go out to eat. Americans don't want to live paycheck to paycheck anymore. Those are the priorities that matter."
Wimalasena's opinion has sparked some discontent, especially among Alice Hasters. She believes that Kamala Harris's women's politics in the United States is actually very well received. Both cannot prove their theses.
"Replacing America is impossible"
But what could the U.S. election result mean for Germany? Ralf Stegner makes it clear that the SPD would prefer to work with Kamala Harris. Of course, one must prepare for every election decision and work with everyone, he says. But as a democrat, one must also have a clear position. "It does make a difference whether someone leading the United States acknowledges election results or not, whether they incite violence, or whether they are a convicted criminal. A lot is at stake, for America and the world," says Stegner. However, the American democracy is strong. "It would also survive a Donald Trump. But no one can wish for that, neither in Europe nor in America. At least not anyone who means well for America and its people," says Stegner.
Röttgen, on the other hand, doubts that the federal government is prepared for a possible second term of Donald Trump. Chancellor Scholz had stated a few months ago that they were not preparing for such a case, which Röttgen disputes. "One must prepare for this case." Germany and Europe must be clear that there would be a completely different Ukraine and Russia policy under Donald Trump. Everything indicates that Trump would abandon the "fundamentals of American foreign policy as we know them." "That's a whole different perspective." The security guarantee of the United States for Europe would not be assured under a Trump administration, says Röttgen. "Whoever does not prepare for this loses valuable time that would then be the European task of ensuring security and peace."
Stegner, however, argues that the Chancellor is aware of this and has stated that one must work with any elected US administration. The danger of a change in US foreign policy after a possible Trump victory is clear to him. And here, the SPD politician is pessimistic. Germany is a middle power, he says. "Replacing America is impossible."
It's not about replacing the US in military and security policy questions, Röttgen counters. "America is globally irreplaceable with its capabilities." Nevertheless, the task remains to ensure peace and security in Europe. "And if that is no longer fulfilled by the Americans, it remains our task in Europe."
Despite expressing disagreement with Kamala Harris as the right candidate, Jörg Wimalasena raises concerns about her perceived political arbitrarity. He points out her inconsistencies on key issues, such as supporting and later opposing the introduction of general health insurance, and her shifting stances on other matters.
Wimalasena's criticism of Harris' focus on issues like abortion, while ignoring more pressing concerns like inflation, potentially resonates with American voters who prioritize economic stability. However, it remains uncertain how significant this impact will be on Harris' campaign.
