Baerbock defends late new election

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) defended the decision of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) at the time of the planned new election. After careful consideration, Scholz decided on an “orderly procedure,” said Baerbock on the ARD program “Maischberger.”

“The Chancellor has certainly thought it through clearly for himself.” Baerbock responded to criticism from the CDU and CSU, who are calling for an earlier election.

Dobrindt: Scholz is not allowed to play for time

CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt rated the idea that “we can now fix the broken traffic light” as bold. The Chancellor should not play for time, he told a ZDF “Spezial”. For projects that the traffic light has not managed for months, Scholz cannot expect them to be decided quickly with Union help.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz had already insisted on a quicker new election than Scholz had planned. After the dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) and the subsequent break in the traffic light coalition, Scholz wants to raise the question of trust so that new elections will be held in March.

“The Chancellor decides alone”

Apart from Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Baerbock also justified Scholz’s proposal with the international circumstances. The new US President Donald Trump will not be in office until January. While the USA now has “no president who is really capable of acting”, the second largest economy, Germany, should not be immediately facing an election.

Furthermore, according to Baerbock, Scholz was acting constitutionally when announcing new elections and a vote of confidence. The Green politician emphasized: “The Basic Law applies. The Chancellor decides this for himself based on our history.”