News: Government statement by Friedrich Merz, trial against Nord Stream saboteur, Ukraine application by AfD and BSW in Saxony-Anhalt

It wasn't even three years ago that Merz called Olaf Scholz a "plumber of power" (more on that here). His coalition was already wavering considerably, and Merz did not show any false consideration for Scholz. He is "deeply sorry," but compared to the chancellors that his "once so proud party" has appointed, one must "come to the conclusion after this government declaration at the latest: You can't do it!" Because: "The shoes in which you stand as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany are at least two shoe sizes too big for you."

At the time, many people thought that once this dashing analyst of Germany's grievances was in power, the country would quickly improve. Friedrich Merz probably thought that first and foremost. And today? After almost a year and a half of his government, one has to say: the current plumber of power is tinkering around at a loss - and he's dripping heavily on his shoes, which are far too big.

The first trial against a suspected Nord Stream saboteur begins today at the Hamburg Higher Regional Court. Four years ago, Serhij K. is accused of being the head of a commando that dived from a boat to the gas pipes at the bottom of the Baltic Sea and blew them up. My colleague Fidelius Schmid is part of the team of SPIEGEL investigative reporters who revealed the actions of the saboteurs two years ago - and that the explosion was probably a Ukrainian secret operation (more on that here).

In Saxony-Anhalt today we have to take note of the next chapter in the uneasy alliance between AfD and BSW: The two parties want to pass their first joint proposal in the state parliament at a specially called special session (more on this here). The policy of sanctions against Russia as well as the arms deliveries and financial aid have failed, according to the draft application. That's obviously not true - as can be seen from the fact that Ukraine continues to exist as an independent state and can assert itself against the Russian war of aggression thanks to German support - but you can write it down in an application.

The state government should then advocate in the Federal Council for an “immediate ceasefire and the start of peace negotiations with Russia.” The current government has so far left it open whether it would see itself bound by such a request. It would have no further consequences anyway, because there would neither be a majority in the Federal Council for this request, nor are the federal states responsible for foreign policy issues at all. And even if they were: Vladimir Putin is not listening to the US President's wishes for a ceasefire, so he is unlikely to be impressed by appeals from Saxony-Anhalt.

This special session is about symbolic politics, one could also say: pomposity without consequences. But who knows, maybe Putin will send his fans a greeting and a stack of autograph cards.

More background here: BSW wants to pass Ukraine proposal with AfD

...is the red-green-red capital coalition. Well, it doesn't even exist yet. But will it ever come about? As soon as the three potential partner parties started their exploratory talks, they were interrupted again: The Berlin Left has accepted the harsh Israel critic Vanessa Emde into its parliamentary group, even though, according to SPIEGEL information, she had previously promised the Greens not to do exactly that. Together with the SPD, the Greens now want to check again how the Left views anti-Semitism. Everything back to the beginning.

The whole story here: The Left is said to have promised the Berlin Greens that Vanessa Emde would not be accepted into the parliamentary group