The claim
Our conclusion
The phrase “no matter what my German voters think” is an unfortunate choice. From the context it becomes clear what Annalena Baerbock wanted to express: Germany stands on Ukraine's side and the sanctions against Russia must be maintained despite opposing votes. The social consequences for its own population are cushioned by the state. This is particularly clear in the final sentence: “We are in solidarity with everyone in our country, just as we are with everyone in Ukraine.”
An Infowar campaign against German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is currently running on social media (beginning of September 2022). Under the hashtag #BaerbockRetritt she is accused of doing politics for Ukraine at the expense of her own people. The reason is a quote that is taken out of context: “No matter what my German voters think, but I want to deliver to the people of Ukraine” – “No matter what my German voters think, I want the promise to the people keep in Ukraine”.
These words come from a panel discussion at the Forum 2000 conference in Prague on August 31, 2022, where she directly addressed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The final sentence of her speech proves that Minister Baerbock's quote is taken out of context: “We are in solidarity with everyone in our country, just as we are with everyone in Ukraine.” Unhindered, the pro-Putin faction and the political right are sinking their teeth into the spin: Ukraine first , Germany second.
A misleading compilation of the speech was distributed by a small Telegram channel called RussiaUSA. The rabble-rouser followed this lead. On Twitter, the clip now serves as the basis for a series of false reports and calls for his resignation . Some examples: Alice Weidel thinks that Baerbock is admitting that the traffic light coalition is deliberately working against the people in Germany. Sahra Wagenknecht sees US interests behind this. The AfD is not above a series of Sharepics [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] on Facebook. The Austrian FPÖ wanted to benefit from the shitstorm and speaks of the “Nibelung loyalty of the German Foreign Minister to Ukraine”.
Anna Schneider , editor at Die Welt, criticizes the “top-down politics […] in the rhythm of the finest popular education”. The “freelance journalist” Henning Rosenbusch accuses the “German quality press” of taking over Kiev propaganda and of having “defused” Baerbock’s words in a short report. However, he himself spreads a distorted quote: "I will put Ukraine first, no matter what my German voters think or whether they demonstrate: the sanctions will remain even in the winter." (Update: The dpa has dedicated its own fact check to this claim )
It becomes really worrying when supposed quality media takes over the framing. Die Welt misrepresented Baerbock in the title of the article and only corrected the quote later in the article. They haven't bothered on Twitter In this way, a large medium itself becomes a multiplier of false information. Der Spiegel this way: “An article in Die Welt was often shared online in which the shortened or incorrectly translated quote about the voters was initially in the headline.”
The campaign against #Baerbock shows how important it is that we all stand up against #disinformation and be louder. Today she meets @ABaerbock, tomorrow she meets someone else. It threatens our coexistence, it threatens our democracy, disinformation affects us all.
Sawsan Chebli on Twitter .
Fortunately, not the entire German opposition, like Ruprecht Polenz from the Center Union, is playing the game of Russian disinformation. Support for Baerbock also came from the coalition partner: It is the federal government's job to “promote the policies you represent, even in times when there is headwind. “The Chancellor is very close to the Foreign Minister and all other ministers,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
Enough of the words of others, what exactly did Annalena Baerbock say during the panel discussion in Prague?
The original quote in context
First of all, Ms. Baerbock addresses the declarations of solidarity towards Ukraine that are repeatedly expressed by all European countries. But it is clear that there is no need for applause for standing on Ukraine's side. She then directly addresses the comments made by the panelist before her, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
I would like to introduce a point of contention into the discussion: I listened to your [Dmytro Kuleba] remarks, which I really appreciate, but I would like to disagree with you on one sentence that you said: namely, that we shouldn't talk about the fact that this war might will last even longer. Because when I make a promise as a politician - and fortunately in a democracy it can happen that people contradict and say years later: You didn't tell us the truth...
So if I make the promise to the people of Ukraine: “We will stand by you as long as you need us,” then I want to keep it. No matter what my German voters think , I want to keep my promise to the people of Ukraine. That's why it's important for me to always be very open and clear. That means that with every action I take, I have to clearly state that it will last as long as Ukraine needs me. And that's why I think it's so important that we be so specific.
Yes, everyone wants us to see the war stop tomorrow. But if he doesn't stop tomorrow, then I'll still be here in two years. It sometimes sounds a bit difficult at the EU level. This is also where we [EU foreign ministers] do not always agree. Sometimes also about measures that the EU takes. Because we have to prepare every sanctions package so that it lasts for the next two years. If we don't need it for two years, then that's great. But if we need it, then it must last as long as Ukraine needs us.
We are now entering the winter period in which we will be challenged as democratic politicians. People will take to the streets and say, “We can’t pay our energy prices.” I will say: “Yes, I know, we will help you with social measures”. But I don't want to say: "Okay, then let's stop the sanctions against Russia." We will stand with Ukraine. This means that the sanctions will be maintained in the winter, even if things get very tough for us politicians. We need to find good solutions across Europe to offset the social impacts.
That is the other aspect of this war: it is a hybrid war. The second strategy is to divide our democracies and say, “The poor people are left behind.” We have to answer: “No, we are in solidarity with everyone in our country, just as we are with everyone in Ukraine.”
Conclusion
The quote from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was taken out of context and intentionally(?) misunderstood by political opponents. The words come from a panel discussion at the Forum 2000 conference in Prague on August 31, 2022. In her speech she emphasized the following: Germany stands on Ukraine's side. The sanctions against Russia must be maintained despite opposing voices in our own country. The social consequences for its own population are cushioned by the state.
Sources:
https://www.forum2000.cz/en/projects/democracys-clear-and-present-danger-how-do-we-respond (event homepage)
https://youtu.be/78-_Ou5sH3k? t=4520 (video of the panel discussion)
https://www.volksverpetzer.de/analyse/pro-kreml-aktion-gegen-baerbock/
https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article240801361/Baerbock-Staat- stands-on-the-side-of-the-Ukraine-egal-was-my-deutschen-Waehler-denken.html
https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/annalena-baerbock-aktion-gegen-aussenministerin-von -prorussian-accounts-started-and-anchored-a-de1508b1-731c-4ea1-96da-eb726f0de470
https://dpa-factchecking.com/germany/220902-99-604950/
Here is more about the current Infowar and recreated news sites .
In line with this topic:
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