BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Union faction leader Friedrich Merz wished Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) a speedy recovery after his accident while jogging – and at the same time sharply attacked the policy of the traffic light coalition. On behalf of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, he also wanted to “wish the Chancellor a good and quick recovery after his sports accident at the weekend,” said Merz, who is also CDU chairman, on Monday before the first meeting of the Union faction after the parliamentary summer break in Berlin . He added: “I have already told him personally, but I would like to say it again from this point: Get well soon.” CSU regional group chief Alexander Dobrindt joined the recovery wishes.
The 65-year-old Scholz fell while jogging at the weekend. After his fall, the Chancellor wears a black eye patch over his right eye because of his facial injuries.
Germany has structurally arrived in a recession, and it is “unfortunately once again the Federal Chancellery that is blocking the delivery of an urgently needed weapon system to Ukraine,” said Merz, referring to Scholz’s hesitation to comply with Kiev’s request and type cruise missiles to deliver Taurus. “This hesitation is not for our safety.” In this situation, the federal government should actually concentrate on two core tasks: securing freedom abroad and preserving prosperity at home. Instead, the federal government is “continuing seamlessly as it was before the parliamentary summer break. It has stopped arguing and is continuing its work with arguing.”
Merz and Dobrindt announced that they would request a cancellation of the final vote on the controversial heating law planned by the traffic light for this Friday. The Union wants to refer the draft law back to the Economic Committee so that proper advice can be given there – just as the Federal Constitutional Court of the coalition has given up. The draft law was “not properly discussed, and that is why it is not possible to pass it on Friday,” said Merz./bk/DP/ngu