Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) indirectly accuses SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) of blocking potentially life-saving aid to Ukraine. The ARD program “Maischberger” was about, among other things three billion euros for possible additional aid for Ukrainewhich the parties are currently fighting over in the federal election campaign – even within the still red-green government coalition. The Union, FDP and Greens want to finance additional arms deliveries to Ukraine through an unscheduled budget expenditure before the election on February 23rd.

“That probably won’t happen if Olaf Scholz doesn’t want it,” said Habeck. “It's a political weighting.” The Green candidate for chancellor said: “Conversely, the SPD didn't have any major problems requesting that more be done for electric cars or abolishing network fees.” So there shouldn't be anything more for Ukraine. When it comes to other expenses, the Chancellor's party is not so hesitant.

Habeck countered this: “Or you can say: It doesn’t matter, we have to help. From my point of view – now in the immediate need – then we help, and then we solve the problem afterwards.” If the Greens were given the appropriate mandate in the election to solve the matter in this way, “that would be my answer”.

Habeck did not want to respond to Scholz's accusation of lying, despite his host's explicit request. Scholz said on the subject at a FAZ event on Monday: “I have the feeling that I am saying this so openly: At the moment the German people are being lied to with the greatest intensity and great caution.” When asked by whom, he added the SPD candidate for chancellor added: “Of all those who try to exclude one question: How do we pay for it.”

Habeck explained the situation like this: “Ukraine would soon stop ordering, so the flow of support would stop, and there are systems that can protect lives that they could order now.” The three billion euros in question would now be a gap Habeck admitted. But: “The cabinet would have to decide on an over-plan expenditure of three billion euros – that can be done.”

Habeck argued that in addition to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) would also welcome such an approach. But they would be thwarted by the SPD-led Finance Ministry. “This is an internal SPD conflict.”

The Green candidate attested to the chancellor's attempt to transfer the campaign style of his CDU predecessor Angela Merkel to 2025. Merkel was accused of a kind of Teflon style: it was said at the time that she was maneuvering through the election campaign without a clear target and, in case of doubt, without a clear position.