Berlin: After asserting that Germany is at war with Russia at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock received harsh criticism. Politicians from the opposition questioned her suitability for the position as a result of the remark.
Sahra Wagenknecht, a member of parliament and the former leader of the Left Party in the Bundestag, tweeted on Friday, "A statement by Baerbock that Germany is at war with Russia shows that she is not suited for her job." She continued, accusing Baerbock of "trampling" on Germany's reputation, saying that a foreign minister should be a "top diplomat" and "not act like an elephant in a China shop."
In the discussion on Tuesday, Baerbock asserted that European countries must do more to defend Ukraine because they are "fighting a war against Russia."
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According to Alice Weidel, co-chair of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Bundestag, Germany needs a foreign minister who can act "as a responsible diplomat and not a firebrand" amid the conflict in Europe. She also stated that a foreign minister should only represent Germany's interests.c
The German-Hungarian Association's president, Gerhard Papke, a regional lawmaker from North Rhine-Westphalia, called Baerbock's remarks "completely politically insane."
Selim Dagdelen, a member of parliament from the left, urged Chancellor Olaf Scholz to "immediately" explain whether Baerbock has his government's approval "for her declaration of war." He continued by saying that the minister poses a threat to German citizens' security.
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So far, neither Scholz nor Baerbock have responded to the criticism. In a statement to the tabloid Bild, the Foreign Ministry claimed that Berlin is not involved in the dispute between Kiev and Moscow.
Invoking the UN Charter, it declared, "Supporting Ukraine in exercising its individual right to self-defense... does not make Germany a party to the conflict." According to the Foreign Ministry, Baerbock meant that Russia's military action in Ukraine is "a war against the European peace and order."
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According to Moscow, Baerbock's remarks only demonstrate how the West has been preparing for this conflict for years.