Irked by SPD's Peace Manifesto, Roth roars: "This ain't a debate contribution, it's historical revisionism!"
"No dispute here, we're recounting the past"
Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Email | Print | Copy Link
Michael Roth, former SPD foreign policy heavyweight, sounds off on ntv.de about the Peace Manifesto supported by party members like Rolf Mützenich. He criticizes Mützenich for derailing the government's efforts and calling the manifesto "historical revisionism."
ntv.de: So, Rolf Mützenich, Ralf Stegner, and numerous SPD members are pushing for a drastic shift in peace and security policy. What was your initial reaction to the so-called manifesto?
Michael Roth: Frankly, I couldn't believe it. I'd hoped we, the SPD, had come further by now. Plus, we had the self-critical resolution on foreign and security policy passed at our party congress in December 2023. Mützenich gave a speech that didn't align with the resolution and got a standing ovation for it. I knew then: Something was off. The SPD leadership should have recognized this imbalance and kept the debate going instead of shelving it.*
About the ManifestoMichael Roth believes the manifesto, calling for diplomatic talks with Russia and a policy reversal on armament, is "historical revisionism." He condemns the authors for perpetuating the narrative that Russia isn't the sole aggressor and the political West hasn't extended a hand in dialogue enough.
Someone Else's ShoesTaking on a diagonally opposite stance, the authors claim that the Western powers, led by the US, disregard international law and existing disarmament treaties, an argument Moscow equally supports. These Russian narratives have wide resonance within the SPD and the German public, according to Roth. Critics argue that Russia's security interests have been ignored, but Roth calls this a nonsensical argument that undermines Ukraine's sovereignty.
The Semblance of a War FrontThe manifesto also refers to an "allegedly impending war," a rhetorical strategy that plays into the fears of many Germans. However, Roth asserted that this talk of a direct attack on Germany is nationalist nonsense that would jeopardize NATO's mutual defense commitment. Ignoring our Central European partners is the quickest way to fail, he warned, citing Russia's past conflicts with Georgia and the annexation of Crimea as examples.
Internal StrifeIronically, one of the manifesto's signatories is former SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, who has frequently criticized Roth in the past. Roth is surprised and irritated by this turn of events and finds it irresponsible that a powerful politician like Mützenicha voices such views. According to Roth, the SPD must confront this challenge by engaging in a broad societal debate, led by the party itself.*
Election Campaign WoesThe SPD's campaign for the Bundestag election was dogged by fears of war and promises of aid to Ukraine, mixed with warnings of military escalation. The party didn't fare well in the election, with the Green Party and Union winning more votes.
[Michael Roth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Roth_(politician)) | Rolf Mützenich* | SPD* | Russia* | Vladimir Putin* | Attack on Ukraine
The Commission, amidst the intense political and general news landscape, might be tasked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the debate on SPD's peace manifesto unfolds. Concurrently, crime and justice headlines continue to discuss the implications of the SPD's internal strife, particularly the contrasting views expressed by Michael Roth and Rolf Mützenich.
