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Robert Habeck looks into the distance: "Freedom through thoughtfulness"
Photo: Britta Pedersen / dpa
Since December 8, 2021, Robert Habeck has been writing significantly less.
It is the day on which the Green politician, whose biography for a long time contained the professional title of “freelance writer”, was appointed Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
A few months earlier, during the election campaign, Habeck had published the book Different From Here: A Political Sketch.
For 32 weeks it stayed on the SPIEGEL bestseller list among the 50 most successful non-fiction books in hardcover.
Directly after the federal elections in autumn 2021, SPIEGEL published an essay in the form of »ein praise of politics«.
But since taking office there has been little publicity: a guest commentary on trade policy in the "taz" (together with the Green Party leader Katharina Dröge), the publication of a speech on July 20 in the "Süddeutsche Zeitung", a guest commentary on the "energy treasure Baltic Sea” with his Danish counterpart and the EU Energy Commissioner in the “Handelsblatt” – that's it.
The text form with which Robert Habeck most recently attracted attention was the letter (to Finance Minister Christian Lindner).
Nevertheless, Robert Habeck is honored with the Ludwig Börne Prize 2023.
The award, which is endowed with 20,000 euros, will be presented to the politician on June 11 in the Paulskirche, as the Ludwig Börne Foundation announced.
The editor of the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", Jürgen Kaube, acted as judge.
In his justification, Kaube referred to the constant danger that arguments would no longer count in political discussions, but rather »narratives«.
Habeck stands out among those who opposed this as a politician and political publicist.
The statements of the Vice-Chancellor are characterized by socio-scientifically informed and life-world-based reflection.
"In the constraints of politics, he fights for freedom through thoughtfulness in an impressive way," explained Kaube.
Since 1993, the prize, which commemorates the writer and essayist Ludwig Börne (1786-1837), has been honoring German-speaking authors »who have achieved outstanding things in the field of essays, criticism and reporting«.
In the past, the Ludwig Börne Prize went to Hans-Magnus Enzensberger, Marcel Reich-Ranicki, Rudolf Augstein, Eva Menasse, Harald Schmidt and Florian Illies, among others - but also to former Federal President Joachim Gauck.
A judge appointed by the board of the foundation decides on the winner with sole responsibility.
He also holds the laudatory speech for the award winner.
feb/dpa