Warning in Munich

Rauch: NEOS to blame for failed negotiations

In Munich, outgoing Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) warned against following his country's domestic political example. In Austria, party interests had been put before the ability to compromise. The minister blamed the NEOS in particular for the failure of the coalition talks.

In a situation in which Russia and the USA are doing everything they can to weaken Europe, it was "irresponsible" of the Liberals to pull out of the coalition talks, Rauch said in Munich on Friday. He visited the Greens in the Bavarian state parliament.

"Söder paves the way for right-wing extremists"
According to the politician, he fears that Austria is leading the way for Germany. The federal election on 23 February is not only "extremely important" for Germany. 

If the Bavarian Minister President Söder rejects any cooperation with the Greens and "picks on the Greens with such aggression", he is ultimately paving the way for the far right. His course was "irresponsible in terms of state policy", criticized Rauch.

As reported, Söder had said that he did not want the Greens in the government. The party was becoming "ever more left-wing, ever stranger and ever worse", he ranted at the Bavarian state conference of the Junge Union in Nuremberg. The Greens are not sufficiently competent for cooperation, he said.

Commenting on the developments in Austria, Söder said that the rise of radical parties must be prevented. German right-wing populists are even worse than the FPÖ, he said.