Merz can decide for himself whether to travel to Kyiv, the CDU leader counters with his critics. Finance Minister Lindner calls it a “complicated situation” because President Steinmeier had been expelled from Ukraine and Chancellor Scholz hesitated.
The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz has defended his planned trip to Kyiv against criticism. “As a member of parliament and as leader of the opposition, I claim to be able to decide for myself whether or not to make such a trip,” said Merz on Monday in Cologne after a joint meeting of the presidencies of CDU and CSU. “It’s not up to the federal government to judge or even comment on that, that’s my decision.”
He has Chancellor Olaf Scholz Informed on Saturday morning that he would be traveling, according to Merz. He also took advantage of detailed information from the German Federal Government. He did not ask the Federal Criminal Police Office to accompany him. “And there was no corresponding offer from the BKA.”
Merz said he recommended Scholz to go to Ukraine himself. However, he has not done so in the past two months. “In my view, there is no reason to wait anywhere for a member of the federal government to plan a trip.” If he is invited, he decides for himself whether he travels or not. “And I don’t ask for permission either.”
Lindner: “Complicated situation”
Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Monday it was a “complicated situation” due to the German President Frank-Walter’s being uninvited Steinmeier created by the Ukrainian side in mid-April. Incidentally, he was also Friedrich’s head of state MerzLindner added, alluding to the opposition leader’s travel plans.
Lindner expressed understanding that Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not traveled to Kyiv since the outbreak of war. “I cannot and do not want to publicly judge the Chancellor’s travel plans,” he said FDP-Head of “World” TV.
Merz Chancellor Scholz had accused “hesitation”, “hesitation” and “anxiety”. Scholz, on the other hand, recently defended his course. “I make my decisions quickly – and in coordination with our allies. I am suspicious of hasty action and German going it alone,” said the SPD politician to “Bild am Sonntag”.
Söder: “An important signal for solidarity”
The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is keeping the planned trip to Ukraine Merz not for a snub from Chancellor Scholz. “No, not at all,” said Söder on Monday in Cologne when asked a question. It is rather “an important signal for solidarity”.
CDU presidium member Julia Klöckner also spoke with a view to the planned trip to Ukraine by the CDU leader Merz by a clear sign of solidarity. “The fact that the leader of the leading opposition party is now traveling to Ukraine is correct and a clear sign of solidarity,” said the CDU politician to the “Rheinische Post”. If it is true “that the government and opposition bear state-political responsibility, particularly in crucial issues, then it is true that Friedrich Merz travel to Ukraine.” Merz should not take the train to Kyiv until this Monday evening, since according to his appointments he is still taking part in a joint executive committee meeting of the CDU and CSU in Cologne.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office announced on Monday that it was in contact with the office of the CDU boss about his travel request. However, since the embassy in Kyiv is not open, there will be no on-site support. Merz himself tweeted that he had not asked for an escort from the Federal Criminal Police Office. It was announced over the weekend that Merz plans to travel to Kyiv on Monday. There was initially no information on the details of the trip and any interlocutors in Kyiv.
Left delegation also travels to Ukraine
Meanwhile, left-wing foreign politician Gregor Gysi also wants to travel through Ukraine and visit the capital Kyiv, the suburbs of Bucha and Irpin, and the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. As parliamentary group spokesman Michael Schlick announced on Monday, the former Left Party leader will be accompanied by the Left Party’s candidate in the federal presidential election last February, Gerhard Trabert. Visits to hospitals, emergency clinics and discussions with representatives of aid organizations are planned. The trip is scheduled to take place from Tuesday to Sunday.
The journey through the war zone takes place without personal protection by the Federal Criminal Police Office and without the approval of the Bundestag Presidium. Schlick said the BKA and Bundestag had proposed a one-day trip to the three-person delegation, which included Gysi and Trabert as well as himself. But they refused and are now traveling without BKA protection.
(APA/Archyde.com/dpa)