Status: 04/23/2022 12:57
At the FDP federal conference, party leader Lindner spoke clearly in favor of delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine. They must win the war. At the same time, he defended Chancellor Scholz.
In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the leader of the FDP, Christian Lindner, has clearly spoken out in favor of handing over heavy weapons. “Ukraine needs heavy weapons. I don’t understand why this statement is a problem for some,” Lindner told the Liberal Party’s federal conference in Berlin.
Ukraine was attacked by Russian President Vladimir Putin because it “made valuable decisions in the direction of Europe” and thus moved away from Putin’s authoritarian system. In Ukraine, there is also a struggle for our values, so “Ukraine must win this war, and Ukraine will win this war,” Lindner said in his speech, which he delivered from Washington because of a corona infection. Russia under Putin must be completely isolated.
support for the chancellor
At the same time, Lindner supported Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the dispute over arms deliveries. “The chancellor has the confidence of the FDP and also of his parliamentary group in the German Bundestag,” said the finance minister. The situation calls for responsible and serious decisions.
General criticism of the Federal Chancellor cannot be the FDP’s business, Lindner said. In view of the Union faction’s request for arms to be handed over to Ukraine, he accused the latter of “partisan political exercise” that was inappropriate in times of war.
It also bothers him that the Union faction is also very tactically defending the planned €100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr, Lindner said. Union faction leader Friedrich Merz said the traffic light coalition for the necessary amendment to the Basic Law would not receive more votes than necessary. “What is this more than pure partisan tactics on an issue of this historical dimension?” It’s a key step, Lindner said. The Union must ask itself whether it is fulfilling its political responsibility as a State with this approach.
“Olaf Scholz is a responsible leader”, Christian Lindner, FDP, on Olaf Scholz’s behavior in the conflict in Ukraine
tagesschau24 2:00 pm, April 23, 2022
Doubts about the chancellor’s will to lead
But there are also clear criticisms of the Chancellor’s course in the FDP – for example, FDP Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki. In light of international criticism of Germany’s hesitant attitude in supplying Ukraine with weapons, he said: “The image that many representatives of the largest government party are presenting before the eyes of the world public is not one that can satisfy us as a partner. of coalition.”
Kubicki warned: “We simply don’t have time to deal with the ideological ballast of the past.” Concrete and effective military aid is needed for Ukraine. “And some say the decisive will to lead is also lacking at the moment.”
FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann had previously accused Scholz of hesitation. When asked if there was a procrastinator in the Chancellery, she replied “Yes” on Deutschlandfunk last week.
And the FDP’s designated secretary general, Djir-Sarai, emphasized in the run-up to the party’s congress that he was one of those who called for Ukraine’s support very early on. “At a time when others were of the opinion that this war was not part of the coalition agreement.” The FDP has also made it clear in recent days that support must continue – also when it comes to heavy weapons. “And I am convinced that time is of the essence here,” said Djir-Sarai. “Ukraine should receive whatever help it needs.”
Canceling tax increases
In light of the consequences of the war and the pandemic, FDP leader and finance minister Lindner reiterated his rejection of tax increases. Stronger economic growth is important now. So one thing should not be done, “raise taxes”. The waiver of tax increases was already important in the coalition agreement, “now this waiver is urgent”.