Chancellor Schulz's coalition overcomes a secret motion of no confidence at the expense of Ukraine

The German government will not supply Taurus cruise missiles To Ukraine to save himself. A proposed resolution put forward by the conservative opposition in the Bundestag demanding that the government “finally and immediately supply Ukraine with the largest possible number of operational Taurus missiles” was rejected by parties that strongly requested the Chancellor Olaf Schulz Who gives the green light to Thor, and these are precisely their government partners, the Greens and the Liberals (FDP). Thus, the trio goes beyond what it was Secret movement of censorshipbut it does not come out enhanced.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian wing (CSU) had requested that the vote be held by roll call, with the aim of putting the representatives of the government coalition in the uncomfortable dilemma of voting according to their policies. Party convictions or interests. The vast majority chose the latter option. A total of 485 deputies voted against sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine and 178 voted in favor. There were three abstentions.

Schulz already said last October that Germany would not send Taurus cruise missiles Which is what Kiev insists on, fearing A Attack on Russian territory. The Taurus Tower is one of the most modern missiles of the German Air Force and can destroy targets such as a fortified facility, weapons depots or supply lines, even from high altitudes and at Distance up to 500 km. However, there is strong opposition to the advisor's position from his partners, chief among them in this case Anton HofreiterFrom the Green Party and from the Liberals Mary Agnes Strack Zimmerman.

A few weeks ago, Hofreiter wrote on behalf of more than 20 MPs from his party that the West's reluctance to supply weapons had hampered the liberation efforts of the Ukrainian armed forces and that Ukraine could only successfully defend itself from Russia's war of annihilation. If it is in a position to attack targets located far behind the front line, i.e. using Taurus. Strack-Zimmerman claims the same because the Ukrainian military “now needs the means and capabilities to sustainably disrupt and destroy Russian military supply routes.”

They both voted against what they publicly stood for. Hofreiter because the CDU/CSU “unfortunately behaves in an increasingly partisan manner on this issue” and is only trying to gain an advantage in the internal political debate.” Soldiers' interests, with discussion Future support for Ukraine“.

But the reason is another. What was at stake was The survival of a weak coalition is increasingly in doubt. The coalition agreement between the tripartite parties stipulates that “in the Bundestag and in all committees appointed by it, the coalition parties will vote uniformly.” “Variable majorities are excluded.” This clause has been included in all coalition agreements for decades, regardless of the parties participating in the coalition. An incoherent vote would mean the collapse of the coalition.

The CDU and CSU are aware of these terms and were expecting to lose the vote, but they have increased their arsenal of arguments against the alliance, which even some of its members are already skeptical of. Vice President of the Liberal Party (FDP), Wolfgang KubickiFor example, it has already expressed doubts that the government coalition will be able to finish the legislature. Kubicki said in statements to the newspaper, “The spirit that was at the beginning of the coalition has been exhausted. Many people cannot see a common direction in the three parties.” Nürnberger Nachrichten.

According to Kopecky, Vice President of the Bundestag, if the lack of direction continues, protests in the country will increase and centrifugal forces within the tripartite alliance will strengthen. “These forces could become so intense that I begin to doubt whether the coalition will be able to reach the 2025 elections,” says Kubicki, who is prime minister. He will not again recommend that his party “rejoin a coalition that includes the Green Party.”.

With Schulz's coalition saved for the time being, and despite the Bundestag's vote against the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, that country's Deputy Defense Minister, Ivanhorylukand hopes to get all the necessary support, including Taurus at the meeting Contact Group on Ukraine NATO partners next Tuesday. “It's not too late to deliver,” he said.

Schultz and the American President Joe BidenThey had a phone conversation on Tuesday, but according to a government spokesman, Stephen HebstreetThey did not talk about the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles from Germany to Ukraine. After the Bundestag's rejection, Schulz had another reason to stop the Greens and Liberals. Or this to open another front.