Angela Merkel successor to end ‘soft’ approach on Russia in bid to avoid Joe Biden fury

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Germany: Armin Laschet wins vote to lead the CDU party

Dr Daniela Schwarzer notes the German position was to try to bring themselves and Russia closer together in an attempt to modernise the superpower. However, the newly elected leader of Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) Armin Laschet has previously warned against demonising Russia for their annexation of Crimea among other events. Dr Schwarzer says that the creation of the new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Germany and Russia will also be a contentious issue for President-elect Joe Biden. 

Speaking on Times Radio, presenter Stig Abell asked Dr Schwarzer: “There is a concern that Germany is a bit soft on Russia for economic reasons, will this be a challenge on the tone he (Laschet) will need to strike on the arrest of Navalny?” 

Dr Schwarzer replied: “For Armin Laschet, he has said things that were interpreted as being soft on Russia but since the Navalny case happened – the Russian opposition politician who was poisoned in Russia but brought to Germany for treatment, he just returned yesterday.

“I think it will be difficult for him not to chime in this more critical view of Russia.”

Mr Navalny fell ill on a Moscow flight last year and was found to be poisoned with Novichok before being sent to recover in a Berlin hospital.

Russia denied any involvement in the poisoning and argue there is no evidence he has been poisoned.

Since returning to Russia from Berlin, Mr Navalny has been detained by Moscow police 

Dr Schwarzer continued: “This big strategic debate for Germany still remains to be had and really to decide whether or not it will de facto also on economic issues take a stronger position regarding Russia 

“One of the big contentious issues is this pipeline called Nord Stream 2 which brings Russian gas into Germany and hence the EU and it will be interesting to see how the new incoming Biden administration will actually pressure Germany to take more distance.

“The German position on Russia has slowly but surely changed to become more realistic and hence stronger and more critical of Russia.

Germany: Insider addresses how Laschet and Biden will get on

“For years the idea was really to bring Germany and Russia closer together to build close economic ties to build exchanges among citizens and in that way to help Russia turn west and modernise.”

European countries have also been threatened with sanctions from America if they help build the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. 

Armin Laschet was elected leader of the CDU last Saturday, beating Friedrich Merz by 521 votes to 466.

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Mr Laschet is a strong supporter of Angela Merkel and is thought to continue her policies when she steps down later this year.

Mr Laschet said during his campaign that a change of party direction would “send exactly the wrong signal” indicating he would continue to incorporate Chinese technology company Huawei into their 5G network and helping build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Germany and Russia.

Pushing ahead with the integration of the 5G system and ignoring warnings about the pipeline could both spark the fury of Joe Biden as the United States has been a vocal opponent of further Chinese and Russia integration into the European continent over fears of espionage and undue influence

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