By Andrea Thomas
BERLIN (Dow Jones) — Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) reacted with sharp words to opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s criticism of the work of the federal government. His speech reminded him of the story of “Alice in Wonderland”, as Scholz explained in the Bundestag. “What is really big, you talk down, and vice versa. What actually happened and who was responsible for it all becomes blurred. And what initially sounds logical is in fact sheer nonsense,” said Scholz in the general debate in the Bundestag draft budget.
“Then I hear that you, Mr. Merz, stand up at the CDU party conference and claim in all seriousness that the problem in our country is not the last 16 years of the CDU-led federal government, but the last 16 weeks under the leadership of the traffic light. I can do that just say: Whoever believes that also believes in talking white rabbits. Welcome to ‘Alice in Wonderland’.”
Scholz emphasized that in just under twelve months his federal government had got more things going, implemented and cleaned up than the previous government had been able to do in the past 12 years.
Scholz wants a long-term plan for spending
Merz had previously accused Scholz of breaching the promised increases in defense spending. Contrary to what was promised, the traffic light government will not increase defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product, but the budget will make cuts.
Scholz, on the other hand, emphasized that the issue of the newly created 100 billion euro special fund of the Bundeswehr should not be about quick, but targeted spending that initiate an “orderly, sensible change of path”.
“We will and we want to spend 2 percent of economic output on the Bundeswehr. But we want to ensure that the factories and machines are first purchased for the things that are being created, that we order the right things and that we do it ensure that the Bundeswehr is equipped to function for decades,” said Scholz. “It’s connected to the special fund – a long-term plan, not quick, hectic PR statements, Mr. Merz.”
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 23, 2022 04:21 ET (09:21 GMT)