Brutally Honest Discussions: Ralf Stegner Doesn't Trust Friedrich Merz - The Blunt Truth
SPD's Ralf Stegner demonstrates skepticism towards Friedrich Merz; morning discord unfolds - Mornings Scenario
Written by Gideon Ötinger⏱️ 3 Min Read
Hey There, Fellow Citizens,
The controversial debt package from the Union and SPD squeaked through the Bundestag on Tuesday. For Friedrich Merz, this is a small victory, but there's still a hurdle: the Bundesrat. Merz needs the package approved there if he wants to prepare for a chancellorship. Guess who'll likely be in the coalition? You got it, the SPD. What can we glean from the Bundestag decision, you ask? Here's the scoop.
Recently, SPD politicians have softened their rhetoric to avoid alienating future colleagues. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach even refused to see Friedrich Merz's breach of the debt brake as, well, a breach.
But Ralf Stegner, SPD member of the Bundestag, marches to the beat of a different drum. In the popular talk show "Maischberger" last night, Stegner answered an intriguing question: Does he trust Friedrich Merz?
"Not really yet," Stegner replied. Sandra Maischberger didn't even have to probe further. "And I must also tell you why." One should not, after all, "make common cause with enemies of democracy anywhere, never and for no reason." Stegner was referring to a motion on migration policy that Merz pushed through in the Bundestag in January with the votes of the AfD.
Staying true to his principles, Stegner wants to see this principle in the coalition agreement. "Otherwise, it won't work with the Social Democrats." He'd prefer a good liberal party to the "bumpkins" sitting on the other side.
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- The Commission, following the demands of the Bundestag, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, a topic that Ralf Stegner warned against disregarding in his discussion with Sandra Maischberger.
- In a recent televised interview, Ralf Stegner, a member of the SPD in the Bundestag, expressed his lack of trust in Friedrich Merz, citing Merz's cooperation with the AfD on a motion regarding migration policy as a reason.
- The SPD coalition, which is likely to include the CDU in the upcoming Bundestag session, has agreed to engage in more diplomatic rhetoric to facilitate future collaboration, with Health Minister Karl Lauterbach being a notable exception who maintains a harsh stance against Friedrich Merz's breach of the debt brake.
