Wadephul in “early start”
“The stubborn chancellor stands in the way”
01/13/2023 09:56 am
In the debate about the delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine, the CDU defense expert Wadephul sees only one obstacle: the Chancellor. Scholz lost a leadership role.
The deputy chairman of the Union faction, Johann Wadephul, made serious allegations against Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the debate about the delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine. The delivery of “Leopard” tanks is only a question of when, many allies have spoken out in favor of it. “Everyone wants it. Finland wants to deliver, Spain has been wanting for a long time, Poland has now gone on the offensive and the stubborn chancellor is in the way,” said the CDU politician on ntv’s “early start”. That cannot be Germany’s role.
Scholz very quickly gambled away a leadership role. That has to change, you have to get “on the forehand” again. “Germany must be a leader in defending freedom in Ukraine,” said Wadephul.
The many ambiguities surrounding the delivery of “Marder” infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine are also a nuisance for Wadephul that must be remedied quickly. “We must finally expect this federal government to sort itself out and pick up the pace in defense policy and security policy,” said the defense expert. “We’re at war in Europe and I sometimes get the impression that nothing is happening apart from a big speech that the chancellor gave.” Regarding the promised “Marder” armored personnel carriers, Wadephul said: “We don’t know how many and where they come from.” According to the industry, they can process it. “Anyone who asks the industry will find out from them that this is possible. So, action must be taken quickly now.”
“Lambrecht has the wrong attitude”
In view of the lack of funds for troop exercises and ammunition in the current budget, Wadephul calls for a structural reform of the Bundeswehr. “The Ministry of Defence, the Bundeswehr in general, must now finally be converted.” He demanded: “We have to recognize that national and alliance defense have priority.” A new structure is needed. “The Bundeswehr is still designed in such a way that it is an Afghanistan army, an operational army.” That is why a structural reform is needed, especially of the procurement system. Everyone knew it was a mess. “But we have a minister who hasn’t found office after a year, and that’s an extraordinarily critical appraisal.”
Wadephul called for Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht to be fired immediately. “The New Year’s Eve video showed she had the wrong attitude.” The SPD politician “always only looks after herself” and has not had the opportunity to make the right structural decisions. “That means this defense minister should replace Scholz as soon as possible.”