Berlin: Boris Pistorius criticizes red-green-red for Bundeswehr agreement

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at a press statement

Federal Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has criticized the plan of left, green and social democrats in the capital to end cooperation between the education administration and the Bundeswehr. It was “completely incomprehensible” to end a cooperation agreement concluded only in June, said the SPD politician. The three parties had previously agreed in the exploratory talks for a new Berlin state government.

This would "probably not mean the end" of the youth officers at Berlin schools, Pistorius said. “After the exploratory results in Berlin, however, it would be – even more than now – at the individual schools to check again and again which speakers they could invite,” he added.

This will lead to teachers “increasingly uncertain whether youth officers in schools are still politically wanted,” Pistorius said. Their deployment at schools in many federal states had “very proven” and must also be “still wanted in principle” by the state government in Berlin.

In view of an aggravated threat situation, the Bundeswehr needs “unequivocal political support – also at state level,” said the Federal Minister of Defence. The termination of the cooperation agreement in Berlin would be a signal against the Bundeswehr and its important task. This signal must not come from Berlin. ‘

According to the Bundeswehr, youth officers convey the “challenges of an alliance-oriented security policy” throughout Germany. Their offer is therefore mainly aimed at teachers who teach in the years 9 to 13.

The party bodies of the SPD and Greens decide on Monday on the start of coalition negotiations with the Left Party in Berlin. In the case of the Left Party, a state party congress is to decide on coalition negotiations on 31 October. There had been a breakthrough in the exploratory talks on Saturday. The left had clearly won the election for the Berlin House of Representatives on September 20.