Trump on the Brink of Victory: German Parties Weigh In – SPD, AfD, and CDU React to the Unthinkable

Even before the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election for sure, there are mixed reactions in Germany. But mainly anxiety is the main thing. Donald Trump will probably be the next President of the USA. This provoked different reactions in Germany. Several politicians congratulated Trump on his victory. Others expressed concern. Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Trump after his victory in the election This will continue for the benefit of the citizens. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also congratulated Trump on his victory in the US presidential election. The federal government stands for a close transatlantic relationship regardless of the parties, Baerbock told the press after returning from a trip to Ukraine at Berlin’s BER airport. SPD leader: “The result of this election will change the world” SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, however, is worried about the new presidency of Donald Trump. It would mean “less predictability” in US politics, Mützenich said on Wednesday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. Europe must “adapt to this and refer to itself and try to become stronger, more resilient in many directions.” For the international order, Trump’s victory would mean “siemonship on the one hand and, on the other hand, the weakening of international institutions” such as the United Nations. The chairman of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil, sees that the success of Trump’s election has a big impact on Germany. “The outcome of this US election will change the world,” he told Deutschlandfunk. “Germany must now take more responsibility in Europe and also in the world.” There will be a debate in Germany whether it should take even more responsibility for Ukraine. “I think we have to do this like Germany,” said the SPD leader. You can read all the latest developments about the US election in the news blog. SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth told t-online that Europe is now largely on its own in terms of security policy for the first time since the end of the Second World War. Nevertheless, “we will continue to be dependent on the USA in terms of security policy for years to come.” He insists: “That’s why we as Europeans should offer Trump a deal: We invest enormously in our own security and take over the financing of military support for Ukraine by buying weapons from the USA in the future as well. ” Liberal democracy in the USA has now been fundamentally shaken. Roth sees Europe facing “painful” decisions, he also said on ZDF. “We cannot do enough for peace, security and freedom in Europe, on our own continent,” he stressed. “And that is likely to fall on our feet now because Donald Trump has a clear expectation: ‘Get your business up. I will no longer take the coal or the potatoes out of the fire for you.’ And that will be very painful for all of us.” Spahn: Trump should not be “offended” Meanwhile the CDU politician, Jens Spahn, criticized the federal government for the way it has dealt with Trump and his party so far. “It now takes a bitter revenge that the German federal government has no stable relations with leading Republicans. The traffic light is not in a state to deal with Donald Trump,” he told t-online. “Donald Trump’s choice of words, style and behavior often irritates me. But moral attitudes and knee-jerk anger get us nowhere,” he explained. Nevertheless, one should not offend “the next president of our most important ally”. Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts || Transcript Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder’s calls for Germany stemmed directly from Trump’s victory. “Of course the USA is still our most important partner: But we are being challenged as never before. A different wind is blowing,” he wrote. “The Bundeswehr must be massively strengthened – instead of two percent of GDP, we need at least three percent and real conscription.” Both must come quickly. “And economically, Germany needs a complete overhaul with taxes and energy prices similar to the USA.” The foreign policy spokesman of the Union parliamentary group, Jürgen Hardt (CDU), expects the new presidency of Donald Trump to have direct negative effects on Germany. “As for Germany, we have to expect that it will be more difficult and expensive,” said Hardt on Wednesday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. Germany must prepare itself to face “one or two arguments.” At the same time, Hardt pointed out that deals had also been made during Trump’s first term in office. AfD happy about Trump’s victory: “The most important president in modern history” The federal chair of the AfD, Alice Weidel, congratulated Trump on the economic decline, climate ideology, gender and “all this war propaganda” “Of course he is a role model for us,” she later said on Deutschlandfunk. The hope of all patriots who love freedom and peace in America and Europe now rests on your shoulders,” he wrote on no more excuses” In the face of Trump’s victory, Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens) has spoken in favor of stopping the debt brake. The FDP European politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann sees the EU as a bad situation for a Trump victory “Little ready for this.” The result must be relevant now, especially in security and defense policy: “There are no more excuses,” said Strack-Zimmermann. The times when “the Americans protect us” are over. The chairman of the left, Ines Schwerdtner, does not believe that Donald Trump could bring a quick peace to Ukraine. “Donald Trump is so unpredictable that we cannot tell what he is doing,” he said on ZDF. The war in the Middle East is even worse. There, Trump would “further fuel the conflagration.” Share your opinion What do you think about Donald Trump’s victory in the US election? Write an email to Lesermeinung@stroeer.de. Use the text “Trump” and explain why.