Johann Wadephul, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction for defense and security, said foreign influence campaigns pose a “serious threat” and accused Russia of attempting to sway voters by stoking fears of escalation in Ukraine.

“The threat from disinformation campaigns is not only very high but also noticeable on a daily basis,” Wadephul told Polish state news agency PAP in an interview.

“Russia is trying by all possible means to influence the upcoming federal elections.”

The elections come amid public dissatisfaction with the ruling coalition of chancellor Olaf Scholz, according to Wadephul.

He described German society as “deeply disappointed with the governance of the ‘traffic light’ coalition,” criticizing Scholz’s leadership as “glaringly weak, both domestically and internationally.”

The Christian Democrats, led by Friedrich Merz, are vying to form the next government. Wadephul said their priorities would include strengthening the economy and restoring “a sense of security and stability.”

Wadephul also criticized Scholz’s handling of military aid to Ukraine, blaming delays for Kyiv’s current struggles on the battlefield. “Had Ukraine received materials earlier and in greater quantities […] it could have defended itself much more effectively,” he said. “ Olaf Scholz bears responsibility for this.”

Following a recent trip to Kyiv and Warsaw with Merz, Wadephul said “We returned to Germany with the sense that Ukraine is truly in a critical phase of the war, and that it now needs even more and more comprehensive support to cope in the coming months.”