CDU boss in the “ntv early start”
Merz rejects allegations of cooperation with AfD in Thuringia
September 14, 2023, 11:12 a.m
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In Thuringia, a CDU law proposal could get a majority with votes from the AfD. Federal party leader Merz rejects criticism of his party’s actions – and attacks Federal Interior Minister Faeser sharply: She is “simply not telling the truth.”
The CDU party and parliamentary group leader, Friedrich Merz, has rejected the accusation that he is working with the AfD to reduce the property transfer tax in Thuringia. “We don’t make what we discuss in the state parliaments as well as in the German Bundestag dependent on other factions,” said Merz on the ntv program “ Frühstart “. “The CDU in the Thuringian state parliament, like in other state parliaments, is also submitting a corresponding proposal to reduce the property transfer tax for young families. And if the SPD and the Greens agree to the matter, as they have decided here in Berlin, there is there is a majority even without the AfD.”
There will be no cooperation with the AfD at the federal or state level. It stays that way. There is no cooperation with the AfD.” The Thuringian CDU chairman Mario Voigt had spoken to him in advance about the matter, said Merz. “And Mario Vogt is doing exactly what we discussed with each other.” The CDU proposal for the real estate transfer tax should will be voted on in the afternoon in Erfurt. The FDP and AfD probably want to agree, which would outvote the minority government made up of the Left, SPD and Greens, who reject the project.
In Merz’s opinion, the AfD’s rise is closely linked to the high number of refugees. “Of course. Such a party becomes stronger if the problems are not solved. And the population has exactly that impression. And unfortunately the impression is correct.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised a pact for Germany in the Bundestag. “I expressly offered him this in a personal conversation last week to start this pact for Germany now with a common solution to the refugee crisis,” said Merz. “The cities and communities in Germany are hopelessly overwhelmed and this is having a reaction in political voter behavior.”
Faeser is “simply not telling the truth”
Merz attacked Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sharply because of the dismissal of the head of the authority, Arne Schönbohm: “The way in which the Federal Minister of the Interior dealt with the head of an authority here is unspeakable, is really completely unacceptable in personal dealings,” said Merz about Faeser, who also is the SPD’s top candidate in the Hessian state elections on October 8th. “The reasons you are now giving are clearly and demonstrably false,” said Merz.
Jan Böhmermann’s program “ZDF Magazin Royale” was, in addition to documents that became public, the trigger for the minister’s behavior. “Interview statements from SPD members of the Bundestag show that she is simply not telling the truth.” Merz rejects Faeser’s accusation that the opposition is conducting election campaigns and slapstick. “If the dismissal of a head of an authority is a joke in the eyes of the Federal Minister of the Interior, then I once again doubt her understanding of her role. We will continue to do this afterwards, regardless of the election in Hesse. Clarification is necessary here, and she will have to provide it, whether she wants to or not.”
Merz is surprised about the Schröder-Lafontaine reconciliation
After the reconciliation meeting between Gerhard Schröder and Oskar Lafontaine that has now become known, the CDU leader sees no reason to arrange a similar meeting with Angela Merkel. “Angela Merkel and I, we see each other at greater distances, and there has been no disagreement here that requires a comparable production to that of Oskar Lafontaine and Gerhard Schröder,” said Merz.
“In any case, I will congratulate Oskar Lafontaine on his 80th this weekend and I congratulate Angela Merkel on her birthday every year.” When asked whether he would have liked to have been there at the meeting of the former SPD leaders, Merz said: “No, they both have to know for themselves what they are doing. And I read it with astonishment.”