Emergency gas plan, inflationary shock, anti-missile shield: ever new fears, worries and questions about Putin’s war. What answers does Sandra Maischberger’s “Woche” talk provide?
The guests
▶︎ Annalena Baerbock (41, Green). The Foreign Minister takes a tough stance on Germany’s Russia policy: “It’s now taking its revenge in the most brutal way!” She was connected from Berlin.
▶︎ Norbert Rottgen (56, CDU). The foreign policy expert tweeted: “With our energy imports we are stabilizing Putin’s system and thus prolonging the war!”
▶︎ Oscar Lafontaine (78, formerly Left). The ex-party leader broke away from his comrades shortly before the election debacle. As a prominent Putin understander, he mobbed on Facebook in 2021: “Fuck the US imperialism!”
▶︎ Petra Gerster (67). The ex-“Today” presenter warns: “Putin is not only waging this war against Ukraine, but against the West, against the values of our democracy!”
▶︎ Ulrike Herrmann (58). The “taz” journalist believes: “Putin’s ruble number is a propaganda trick. The Russians shouldn’t notice that the war will make their money worthless.”
▶︎ Rainer Hank (69). The FAS journalist Rainer Hank puts pressure on: “We need the energy embargo!”
Errors, truths, forward strategies and back flips: The Zoff-O-Meter sees everything!
worst memory
The ex-moderator judges from bad experience: “He always relied on naked violence and made victims of women and children without regard to loss!”, She describes the “brutality of Putin’s warfare” in Chechnya and Aleppo.
Regarding the current negotiations, Gerster says: “I’ve pretty much brushed off my hopes as far as Putin is concerned. His words were never trusted. It’s back to the old habit of throwing sand in the eyes of the West to continue undisturbed.”
The Zoff-O-Meter starts up
The FAS journalists are surprised by the excitement over Biden’s statement that Putin “can’t stay in power, for God’s sake”. Hank’s feigned astonishment: “What’s wrong with what he’s saying?”
For the “taz” journalist, on the other hand, Putin has “an additional opportunity to save face”. Because “if he loses the war, he can say: look, I’m still president.” Uff!
Clearest answer
The Foreign Minister appears on the monitor. “Her parents took her to peace demonstrations from an early age. Now you have to negotiate a war,” says Maischberger. “Would you have thought so?”
What a question! “No, of course I wouldn’t have thought of that,” replies the minister impatiently. “But now we must do everything we can to bring this brutal war of aggression and, above all, the bombing of innocent people to an end immediately!”
Most naive question
The next request for information is of a similar caliber: “Do you think a world without Putin would be better?” Maischberger wants to know.
“A world without dictators, without autocrats, that would be a peaceful world,” Baerbock rattles off routinely. “But we can’t magic them away. We have made it clear that we are defending the Charter of the United Nations…” Oof!
Clearest warning
Is Putin a war criminal? “I’m completely Secretary of State: courts will have to judge war crimes,” Baerbock replies as cautiously as her chancellor. “But all we see are things that make up war crimes in the end.” Still!
The minister also ruled out NATO intervention in the event of chemical weapons, because: “As much as it breaks our hearts again and again, we have to realize what it means when we get into a direct confrontation with Russia. Then we have a third world war!”
Latest situation assessment
“We have reports from our intelligence services,” Baerbock chats out of the box. “What we feared a few days ago, for example that Odessa could be taken, is fortunately not the case at the moment.”
Her analysis: “We know that there have been significant losses on the Russian side. But whether this is a retreat or just a reorganization in order to attack again cannot be said. That is why we continue to support Ukraine with weapons and ensure that we consistently close the gaps in sanctions.”
Crucial question of the evening
And Ukraine’s proposal to remain neutral if the US, Germany and others vouch for their security? The minister doesn’t bat an eyelash. “We stand by their side one hundred percent,” she explains, “and if guarantees are needed, then Germany will also be there and give guarantees.” Boom!
“When Russia talks about guarantees, they mean something completely different,” Baerbock warns immediately afterwards. “The Russian President imagines that he can veto Ukrainian security interests. But that cannot be the case. Ukraine is a free country and it must and will remain so in the future.” Period!
Latest excuse
Against the increasingly pressing demands for an immediate energy boycott in Russia, Baerbock has come up with a new justification: “We cannot make our exit at the expense of other countries,” she now claims.
Because, according to the minister: “If we completely phase out gas and oil, then we will buy it in other places. But that means that other countries can no longer buy the oil and gas there. And then many other countries would no longer participate in our sanctions.” Wow! Unless the supplier countries finally ramp up production…
Regarding the Poles’ plan to phase out by the end of the year, Baerbock said reassuringly “that we’re not the ones who are always pushing forward.” Except for the nuclear phase-out, of course…
And again Zoff
Röttgen and Lafontaine are cast for the dispute show, and the two political foxes get started without a warm-up phase.
The ex-party leader immediately hits a bang across all red lines: “I think that Putin is a war criminal!” He lectures with a warning finger, “but I also think that Mr. Biden is a war criminal.” boom!
Photo: ARD
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/norbert-roettgen-l–und-oskar-lafontaine-delivered-the-most-heated-discussion-of-the-evening-dea02566283a4c429e9917e1c6531804-79622460 /image/17.image.jpg”/> Norbert Röttgen (left) and Oskar Lafontaine had the most heated discussion of the eveningPhoto: ARD
dialogue of the evening
With that, Lafontaine is letting the old tactical cat out of the bag: he wants to equate Russians and Americans with Putin. “Is Biden a war criminal?” he asks Röttgen lurking.
“Of course not,” replies the CDU politician without further ado.
“Bush not either?”, the ex-party leader continues.
Röttgen looks up briefly: “Bush is not a war criminal,” he replies hesitantly because he can smell the roast.
“Okay!” Lafontaine exclaims triumphantly, throwing his hands far away, “then we don’t need to talk any further. Then I’ll leave that to the audience.” Heidewitzka, Captain! It worked again: Whoever asks the questions controls the debate. Old Socrates already knew that.
Most Powerful Arguments
Röttgen vigorously defends the idea of an immediate energy boycott: “Our country was founded after the war with the words ‘Never again war,'” he recalls, raising his hands in an imploring manner. “Then we must do this now because it is a rational measure to end this war!”
However, Lafontaine does not agree. “That would massively expand the current price increases,” he replies. “Yesterday I spoke to a woman who was very scarce and had tears in her eyes, said: I can’t do my trips anymore…”
Strongest accusation
“What seems to be taking place in the negotiations now is Putin’s war tactics,” Röttgen makes clear. “To think he would be willing to give up his Imperial claims is really naïve! If you really believe that, you haven’t learned anything!”
Lafontaine wants to interrupt him, but Röttgen really turns it up again: “To accuse fellow citizens with lower incomes that they would not be willing to make a contribution, that babies don’t freeze to death and that children’s arms don’t get shot off, that’s incredible! “
Most annoying warning
“We don’t have people in our country who are so selfish!” the CDU politician continued to rant. “They say I can’t afford thirty euros, they should rather die. Germans don’t think that!”
“I’m finding out that people can no longer cope with the permanent price increases,” insists Lafontaine. The talk show host also wants to say something, but is rammed rudely: “Please don’t keep interrupting me from two sides!” growls the ex-party leader, and Maischberger raises his hands.
Fiercest Battle
“Putin’s interest is that he finds a way out of this matter, where he has miscalculated, where he obviously has difficulties,” Lafontaine then explains, wringing his hands theatrically. “That’s why you have to negotiate. If you don’t do that, you’re prolonging the war!”
“The reality is that Putin is waging wars in Europe and is threatening to use the atomic bomb,” Röttgen countered grimly. The aggression does not come from the USA, but “from Putin alone, not from the Russian people, but from Putin and his system.”
most personal question
“Are you satisfied with the way your long political life has come to an end?” the Lafontaine talk show host wants to know.
“No, of course not,” admits the ex-party leader. “If you have program fidelity, you have to behave accordingly. The decision is made by the representation of the workforce. If a party gets five percent workers’ votes…”
“The crosshead of German politics!” mocks Maischberger.
“If you describe program loyalty as unconventional, I’ll take that as a compliment,” Lafontaine grins and has the last word. phew!
quote of the evening
“The future is inherently unpredictable.” Norbert Röttgen
Conclusion
Insistent questions, significant answers, all three political guests with a clear taste, unmistakable aroma and high-proof announcements: That was a talk show in the “reality swallow” category.