“I share the analyses”
Scheuer defends CSU visit to DeSantis
05/07/2023 12:17 p.m
A CSU tour group makes its way to Florida. For the visit to the controversial Republican US Governor DeSantis, the deputies reap criticism. In an interview, ex-transport minister Scheuer explains himself and complains about a “left culture of excitement”.
CSU member of the Bundestag Andreas Scheuer has defended his controversial visit to Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis. It is a strange understanding of democracy to want to dictate to others who you can talk to and meet with, he told the t-online portal: “Without knowing what the conversation was about at all, the left-wing culture of excitement is back at the start.”
Scheuer was responding to allegations that he and his CSU parliamentary group colleagues Dorothee Bär and Florian Hahn were courting an American right-wing extremist with their visit. Criticism came from Katja Mast, the parliamentary director of the SPD parliamentary group, among others. DeSantis stands for a new right-wing culture war, she wrote on Twitter. “Has the CSU found its role model here? The Union reveals what kind of brainchild they are: the far right is being ensnared.”
The federal government’s queer commissioner, Sven Lehmann, made a similar statement. “If DeSantis’ policy is a role model for the CSU, then good night,” said the Green politician to the editorial network Germany. “The right-wing politician is leading a culture war in Florida against women and against lesbians, gays and transgender people. His laws are an acute threat to minorities.”
“I stand by it”
In the interview with t-online, Scheuer compared his trip to the attitude of the federal government: “The German Chancellor is very close to US President Joe Biden and the Democrats. The next President in 2024 can also be a Republican again.” It is important that German politicians maintain contact with all top US politicians. “We should do this again more with high-ranking Republicans.”
Scheuer further said that the topic of his discussions with DeSantis was, among other things, the traffic light gender change law. The Republican warns against this in a different context and wants to prevent certain zeitgeist developments, said Scheuer. “I share DeSantis’ analysis. It may shock some, but I stand by it.” The politicians agreed that “normal people” would be neglected in some political debates. “The people I meet have very different concerns than climate hysteria or gender issues,” Scheuer said.
At the same time, the former transport minister warned of a split in Germany and of conditions such as those that existed in the USA. Politics should not only be made for the “Berlin Federal Bubble”. The traffic light cares too little about top performers, medium-sized companies, family businesses and the working population. “Ron DeSantis speaks a very clear language on this and has had great success with it,” said Scheuer.
Ron DeSantis is considered a potential successor to Donald Trump among Republicans in the United States. In particular, his social policy in relation to homosexuals, transgender people and abortion rights is highly controversial. Florida recently expanded its ban on teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity. With a few exceptions, the regulation applies up to and including the twelfth grade. It is still unclear whether DeSantis will run as a presidential candidate for the Republicans and against Trump for the 2024 election campaign.