Olaf Scholz's Farewell Speech: A Subtle Jab at Merz in His Final Address
Merz's side venture proves to be beyond Scholz's manageable affairs.
By Hubertus Volmer
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As Olaf Scholz delivers his final speech as Federal Chancellor at the SPD party conference in Berlin, he leaves the audience in awe. "It was a great time, and we moved something for our country," he states, hinting at their joint achievements. The long-time politician is visibly emotional yet determined as he asserts his belief that it's best for the CDU not to govern.
Laughter erupts among the SPD members as Scholz pauses to reflect on his time in office. He expresses his gratitude towards his party, promising to always be a former Chancellor that the SPD is proud of—a subtle reminder of past missteps with Schröder.
Before Scholz takes the stage, a film tribute is shown, highlighting his accomplishments during his tenure. The crowd applauds fiercely as Scholz announces the termination of the coalition in classic Scholz fashion.
SPD Wrestles with Disappointing Election Results
Olaf Scholz acknowledges the disastrous election result in February but maintains a hopeful tone. While he doesn't explicitly mention Christian Lindner, it's clear that the cooperation with the then Finance Minister was not without its challenges. Scholz highlights the constitutional amendments to the debt brake and the special fund for infrastructure as key successes in their joint efforts.
Scholz notes that he had wanted to ensure no domestic sector cuts to finance defense expenditure and support for Ukraine. Despite falling short in this message, he remains optimistic that Germany's wealthy citizens will find inventive ways to bolster defense capabilities, a not-so-subtle jab at Friedrich Merz.
Scholz's Calculated Response to Merz's Debt Reform
In the lead-up to the election, Merz was vocal about fiscal responsibility, advocating for strict adherence to the debt brake. However, post-election, Merz has hinted at the need to loosen these constraints to address Germany's defense capabilities [1].
Scholz, previously a proponent of the debt brake, seems to have adopted a more flexible stance, recognizing the need for significant defense spending [3]. While he doesn't directly criticize Merz's position, his ironic comment about "well-off people" and their "interesting calculations" suggests a level of skepticism towards Merz's approach.
Scholz Reflects on the Traffic Light Coalition and the CDU
During his speech, Scholz praises the traffic light coalition for its formation without the CDU, emphasizing that it enabled modernization within the country that would not have been possible with the Union as the ruling party. He conveys his gratitude for this opportunity, subtly implying that the traditional dominance of the CDU hinders progress.
Scholz also highlights their initiatives to uphold citizens' rights and self-determination, ensuring these achievements remain unchallenged. Despite the coalition's challenges, Scholz maintains that it was the right and good choice to take the initiative [2].
Shedding Light on Hope and Respect
Scholz reaffirms his commitment to society's respect for individuals, particularly those without significant educational or career opportunities. He notes that people cannot live without hope, and progressive parties must perpetuate the belief in a better world to remain successful [2].
Scholz highlights the necessity to combat right-wing populism and wishes to see the SPD grow stronger. He nods towards recent debates over the appropriate stance on Russia but chooses not to delve into specifics [1].
Reflecting on the Past and Looking to the Future
As Scholz reflects on the pre-2021 challenges faced by the SPD, he acknowledges the uphill battle during the chairmanship of Martin Schulz and Andrea Nahles. He expresses his gratitude to them while noting the crisis the SPD endured during their tenure. Scholz's successful election bid in 2021, with the support of Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans, marks a turning point for the party [2].
Scholz's final words urge the SPD to remain united as they move forward, a testament to the importance of cooperation in overcoming the obstacles that lie ahead.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- Tagesspiegel.de
- Spiegel.de
- SPD
- Party Conference
- Olaf Scholz
- Friedrich Merz
- Debt Brake
- Defense Spending
Enrichment Data:- Olaf Scholz's stance on Friedrich Merz's potential debt reform and its impact on Germany's defense capability should be viewed in the context of the shifting landscape regarding defense spending and fiscal rules in Germany.- Friedrich Merz initially campaigned as a fiscal hawk, advocating for strict adherence to the debt brake but shifted his position due to renewed concerns about U.S. security commitments under NATO's Article 5.- Both Scholz and Merz now agree that significant defense spending is necessary to rebuild Germany's defense capabilities, exceeding the 2% of GDP threshold that Scholz previously committed to. Merz aims to reach 3.5% of GDP defense spending by 2029.- Scholz and Merz both recognize the urgency to strengthen Germany's defense capabilities in response to geopolitical challenges, such as doubts about the credibility of U.S. defense guarantees and the perceived weakening of NATO alliances.- While Scholz and Merz initially took differing positions on the debt brake, they now agree that loosening the debt brake within certain limits is necessary to achieve their common goal of rebuilding Germany's defense capabilities.
The Commission, in light of Olaf Scholz's subtly political remarks, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the ongoing debates about defense spending and fiscal rules in Germany. The shift in stances among politicians, such as Scholz and Friedrich Merz, underscores the importance of careful calculations and the delicate balance between economic stability and national security.
