FDP politician in early start
Strack-Zimmermann attacks von der Leyen
February 19, 2024, 11:00 a.m
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She is already in election campaign mode: Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann wants to enter the European Parliament. And deals heavily against the Commission President.
The FDP’s top candidate for the European Parliament election, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has expressed criticism about a possible second term in office for EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Others also have an influence on it. Not just Ms. von der Leyen,” said the chairwoman of the Bundestag Committee for Defense in the early start of ntv.
The CDU politician von der Leyen is taking part in a meeting of the CDU executive board today, after which she will appear in front of the press together with party leader Friedrich Merz. It is generally expected that von der Leyen will declare that she will run for a second term as EU Commission President. At an EPP party conference on March 6th and 7th in Bucharest, she could be elected as the top candidate of the European Conservatives. The European elections will take place in June.
Strack-Zimmermann noted that it would be “interesting” if von der Leyen became the top candidate, since she is not running for the European Parliament. “But of course you can also jump from the side onto the stands,” said the FDP politician.
At the same time, Strack-Zimmermann accused the Commission President of an inadequate defense policy. Although von der Leyen was Federal Minister of Defense from 2013 to 2019 and was therefore familiar with the issue, at the head of the EU Commission she focused too much on other issues instead of “taking care of what is relevant: ensuring security.” said Strack-Zimmermann. “If the house isn’t safe, we don’t need to talk about anything else.”
Strack-Zimmermann renewed her call for a person responsible for defense in the EU Commission: “Europe must finally understand that we immediately need a commissioner who will ensure that the countries work together.” He or she would also have to address the goal of a European army. If Europe is not prepared to protect itself adequately, “we have to explain to the citizens that – if things get really bad – we will no longer play a role in a few years.”
Even if the European Union should work more closely together on defense issues in the future, NATO remains the most reliable partner. “NATO is, quite frankly, the most important thing we have,” she said. Strack-Zimmermann also emphasized that Europe does not fulfill the role in NATO that the other member states expect. “We have to be more committed, spend more money and take on more responsibility. That’s what it’s all about.”
With a view to the situation in Ukraine, Strack-Zimmermann again called for the Taurus cruise missiles to be delivered. “My group and I really want this, but it is still being blocked in the Chancellery,” she complained. The defense politician was concerned that the decision about a Taurus delivery could become a projection surface and thus also a question of who would be right in the end. Strack-Zimmermann described this question of power as follows: “Who has the biggest shovel in the sandbox? But it’s a matter of life and death in Ukraine and that’s why my and our wish to the Chancellery, to the Federal Chancellor, is given the green light give.”