Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has expressed regret for his statement about “caliber experts” in the debate about aid to Ukraine. According to a report from the Federal President’s Office, Steinmeier was “annoyed by his formulation in retrospect,” especially because he did not want to further escalate the controversial debate. In recent days, Steinmeier has made self-critical remarks about the “caliber experts.”
At the end of April, Steinmeier defended Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s decision not to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles and expressed his frustration with the German debate on weapons systems. He had criticized military experts for their enthusiasm and ambition at a newspaper event, as reported by “FAZ.”
Politicians from various parties have criticized Steinmeier for his remarks. The CDU, Greens, and FDP have accused him of not fulfilling his role as Federal President and of ridiculing experts to support the SPD’s election campaign. Norbert Röttgen, a foreign politician from the CDU, noted condescension in Steinmeier’s statements and criticized Chancellor Scholz’s handling of the weapons systems debate.
Despite the criticism, there were voices within the SPD that defended Steinmeier. Ralf Stegner and other SPD members criticized those who questioned the party’s peace, détente, and Eastern policy. However, some experts like Jan Claas Behrends were critical of Steinmeier’s behavior and the SPD’s Russia policy.
Overall, this debate surrounding Steinmeier’s statement about “caliber experts” has highlighted divisions within political parties and raised concerns about impartiality and role of Federal President in contentious discussions.
