Merkel ally defends Hamburg mayor against calls for resignation

Record ID: 898758

  • Title: Merkel ally defends Hamburg mayor against calls for resignation
  • Date: 10th July 2017
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JULY 10, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CDU HEADQUARTERS CDU LOGO IN WINDOW GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL'S CHIEF OF STAFF, PETER ALTMAIER, WALKING PAST MEDIA CDU FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (German) CHANCELLOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF, PETER ALTMAIER, SAYING: "The federal government and (the city of) Hamburg prepared, planned and executed this summit together, and that's why it is right that we stand together and do not distract from those at fault. That is a group of unscrupulous rioters who call themselves far left, but in reality want to trample on everything that constitutes the rule of law." ROOF OF CDU HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) CHANCELLOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF, PETER ALTMAIER, SAYING: "It's not about the windows or cars that were damaged (in the G20 riots), it's about people whose lives were put in danger: police officers and residents of the affected neighbourhood alike." ALTMAIER ENTERING CDU HEADQUARTERS FOR WEEKLY MONDAY MORNING MEETING GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER THOMAS DE MAIZIERE ARRIVING ON FOOT, GREETING THE MEDIA LEADERS OF FREE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (FDP) ON STAGE AT NEWS CONFERENCE FOR PARTY MANIFESTO LAUNCH BACKDROP SHOWING PHOTO OF FDP LEADER CHRISTIAN LINDNER WHO HOPES TO RE-ENTER PARLIAMENT WITH HIS PARTY AFTER SEPT. 24 GENERAL ELECTION CLOSE LINDNER LISTENING JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) FREE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (FDP) LEADER, CHRISTIAN LINDNER, SAYING: "The SPD (Socialists), the Greens and the Left party who govern in Hamburg and Berlin are required to unambiguously disassociate themselves from this kind of violent leftist extremism. The policy of wrong-headed tolerance of leftist extremism must end, that is now the test for the SPD, the Greens and the Left." WIDE FDP LEADERS ON STAGE INGOLSTADT, GERMANY (JULY 10, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LIMOUSINE CARRYING SPD CANDIDATE FOR CHANCELLOR, MARTIN SCHULZ, ARRIVING OUTSIDE AUDI HEADQUARTERS REPORTERS OUTSIDE BUILDING VARIOUS OF SCHULZ ARRIVING TO MAKE STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPD CANDIDATE FOR CHANCELLOR, MARTIN SCHULZ, SAYING: "Such small-minded discussions encourage the business of the people who took a city hostage in an almost terrorist-style way for their stupidity." VARIOUS OF SCHULZ TOURING AUDI ASSEMBLY LINE
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2017 15:19
  • Keywords: G20 aftermath violence looting rioting political consequences
  • Location: BERLIN & INGOLSTADT, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN & INGOLSTADT, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: G20,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016P4UFYF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: German Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff and key ally Peter Altmaier of the CDU came to the rescue of Hamburg mayor Olaf Scholz of the SPD on Monday (July 10), repeating earlier remarks that only "unscrupulous rioters" were to blame for the anti-G20 violence.
    Mayor Olaf Scholz, serving a second term since 2015, has faced calls for resignation from CDU members in his city's parliament.
    The Free Democrats (FDP), who are no longer represented in the federal parliament but hope to re-enter it after the September 24 national election, demanded the SPD distance itself from "this kind of violent leftist extremism."
    The SPD challenger to Merkel in the September election, Martin Schulz said the anti-capitalist militants who protested against the G20 summit in Hamburg at the weekend had acted in a "terrorist-style" fashion.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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