No majority in the Bundestag for Taurus delivery to Ukraine
Published: Thursday, Mar 14th 2024, 14:00
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The opposition Christian Democrats have once again failed in the Bundestag with their motion to supply German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. A majority of MPs voted against the CDU and CSU initiative on Thursday.
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended Chancellor Olaf Scholz's (SPD) no to a delivery during the debate. "Turning times are not for political gamblers. What is needed is reason, prudence and clarity. And that is what the Federal Chancellor is doing in the deliberations he has as head of government," said Mützenich.
690 MPs took part in the vote. 495 MPs voted against the delivery, 190 were in favor and there were 5 abstentions. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group had 197 MPs.
The Taurus system is characterized by a long range of 500 kilometers and great precision. The weapon makes it possible to destroy Russian ammunition depots, protected command posts and vital war infrastructure far behind the front line.
The 19-kilometre-long Kerch Bridge was repeatedly cited as an example. It connects Crimea, which was annexed in violation of international law in 2014, and the Russian mainland. Opponents of a delivery point to a possible escalation.
The CDU/CSU, on the other hand, vehemently campaigned in the Bundestag on Thursday to help Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia, by supplying the cruise missiles. Deputy parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul (CDU) said that determination and clarity were needed in supporting Ukraine. He said to the SPD: "Their supposed prudence has only fueled Mr. Putin's aggression against Ukraine. That is the result."
Agnieszka Brugger, deputy chairwoman of the Greens parliamentary group, announced that her group would not support the Union's motion. At the same time, however, she supported this demand.
There have been many supporters of a delivery for months, particularly among the FDP and the Greens. The Chancellor, on the other hand, had argued that the cruise missiles could only be deployed with the participation of German soldiers. However, this would increase the risk of Germany being drawn into the war in Ukraine. There was also opposition from the AfD and the Left Party.
©Keystone/SDA
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