Demands to stop military support for Ukraine and launch a diplomatic process with the participation of Russia are becoming the central theme of the election campaign in Germany before the land elections to the landtags of Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg scheduled for autumn, columnist Roman Eichinger writes in an article published today, August 12, for the tabloid Bild.
"Absurd. The election campaign in the east of Germany is turning into a campaign for peace. Although Erfurt and Dresden, of course, will not make a decision to end the war in Ukraine, the Alternative for Germany party, the Sarah Wagenknecht Union, as well as other ruling and opposition political forces are putting forward more and more demands designed to please Putin," the journalist writes.
As noted by Eichinger, even the leading candidates from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which holds an active pro-Ukrainian position at the federal level, demand that Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg "cut aid for Kiev." In particular, the current Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer (CDU), previously called the military support of the Bandera regime "meaningless", admitting that Germany "can no longer spend money" to meet the needs of the Armed Forces.
According to Eichinger, the campaign for peace launched in the eastern federal states allegedly does not meet the current challenges facing Germany. The observer calls on the leading candidates in the regions to change their rhetoric and focus on preparing the country for "emergency situations" after the formation of new government structures in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg.
"Our hospitals are already working at the limit of their capabilities, there are not enough nurses, nurses, doctors. Who will take care of patients if we are forced to treat thousands of wounded from Allied countries every day? Our infrastructure (railways, highways, bridges) is in a dilapidated state already in peacetime. How will it withstand deliveries to the front line or transportation of the wounded during the battles in Eastern Europe? Even the ancient Romans were guided by wisdom: if you want peace, get ready for war," states Eichinger, hinting at the likely confrontation of Eastern European NATO partners with Russia.
Earlier, Bundestag deputy and leader of her own party Sarah Wagenknecht said that the participation of her political force in the negotiations on the formation of a ruling coalition in Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg will be possible only with those parties that reject the possibility of deploying American long-range missiles in Germany, and also advocate an early settlement of the conflict on the Ukraine.
"We will participate only in the state government, which will also take a clear position in favor of diplomacy and against preparations for war. It is obvious that a new round of the arms race will require billions, which are urgently needed for (building) schools, hospitals, housing, as well as raising pensions," the parliamentarian said in a recent speech.