Former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer described the Chancellery as a “death zone”. Olaf Scholz sees it differently. He doesn’t feel lonely and consults with many people, says the chancellor at a stage talk in Leipzig. The SPD politician also talks about his predecessor and about activists with “tomato juice”. They should “think up something else that is less exciting”.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz still regularly seeks advice from his predecessor, Angela Merkel. That’s what the SPD politician said at a stage talk by the editorial network Germany (RND) in Leipzig. “First of all, we’ve known each other for a long time and have always worked well together, even though we’re in different parties,” Scholz continued. “And that will continue to happen.”
But he also consulted with many other people – “far beyond the governing parties,” emphasized Scholz, and contradicted the thesis of former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer that the Chancellery was a “death zone”. “I don’t feel lonely.”
After a year in office, the Chancellor admitted that his condition was overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and the consequences for Germany. “Of course, my state of mind is very much shaped by this terrible war that is taking place in Europe. Because that’s what has to worry us: Imperialism is back in Europe.”
In Scholz’ view, a diplomatic solution to end the war is currently impossible. Putin’s warfare prevents any rapprochement. With “this murderous war that we are currently experiencing,” “Putin first prevented everything that was going on in the talks before,” said Scholz.
Scholz also spoke about actions by climate activists in which works of art in museums are attacked. “Protest is legitimate, but I don’t find the form of action understandable,” said Scholz. “What does throwing tomato juice at an expensive work of art that has been protected for many years, that impresses many people and that many want to see has anything to do with climate protest?” he asked.
To put it politely, the protest “wasn’t really thought through to the end,” said Scholz. “Everyone only talks about the form of action, almost everyone shakes their heads. It somehow went astray,” emphasized the SPD politician. “Perhaps someone could tell those who are doing this to come up with something else that is less upsetting,” suggested the Chancellor.
