Andreas Scheuer wanted to explain how “climate innovation works”.
However, he was not really able to convince with his contribution.
The criticism of the transport minister is great.
Munich - Climate policy is one of the core issues of this election campaign - by no means only for the Greens.
According to its own statements, the CDU / CSU is also aware of the importance of the topic.
The Union wants to make Germany a climate-neutral industrial country by 2045.
“We are relying on new technologies and innovations,” says the election manifesto.
CSU Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer has now presented one of these innovations - but received criticism for it.
Bundestag election: Scheuer posts contribution to “Climate Innovation” - water bike as a big solution?
Scheuer shared a video of a futuristic water bike on Twitter and wrote: “This bike is an example of how climate innovation works.” He also used the clip to attack the Greens. “Do the Greens really believe that banning even sports (e.g. kite surfing), singing and cargo bikes will solve the major climate issues? - Certainly not. ”Scheuer's motto:“ We as the CDU / CSU rely on inventiveness and innovation when it comes to the climate. ”
The video dates back to 2018 and shows the Manta 5 water bike, according to its own website the “world's first” of its kind. It reaches a maximum speed of 19 kilometers per hour and currently costs 8,990 US dollars, around 7,650 euros. It is available on other platforms for up to $ 1,000 less. Whether this is a widespread remedy against climate change is questionable because of the price alone. On Twitter, some users also saw other aspects that speak against Andreas Scheuer's thesis. The minister's statements were ridiculed.
This bike is an example of how #climatenovation works.
Do the Greens really believe that banning even sports (e.g. kite surfing), singing and cargo bikes will solve the major climate issues?
- Certainly not.
We as the CDU / CSU rely on inventiveness and innovation for #Klima.
https://t.co/gsdmCCRtfi
- Andreas Scheuer (@andreasscheuer) August 24, 2021
Andreas Scheuer becomes the "Transport Minister of Atlantis": "That can't be true, Knallfrosch"
A discussion broke out on social media about who would benefit from this innovation. "Suitable for those with higher incomes with a house on the lake," stated one user. A user made Scheuer the "Transport Minister of Atlantis". Others said the CSU politician was already preparing for the next flood disaster or the rising sea levels due to climate change. The former head of the Greens and today's MEP Reinhard Bütikofer saw in Scheuer's contribution "again something on the topic: Union offers real satire".
WWF Germany scoffed: “Ahem. If Andreas Scheuer were mayor of Venice, we could understand this innovation. ”Moderator Klaas Heufer-Umlauf even described Scheuer as a“ firecracker ”and wrote:“ That can't be true. ”Swantje Michaelsen, transport policy spokeswoman for the Greens, said:“ Please "People, let's stop living in a country where Andreas Scheuer is Federal Minister of Transport."
Many politicians and supporters of the Greens took up the contribution in order to attack the Union again.
A few days ago, parts of the CDU and CSU criticized the Greens for plans to promote cargo bikes.
The deputy chairman of the Greens Ricarda Lang wrote: "Seriously, there are so many easy takes to fool around or make fun of cargo bikes, and then you post it?" The cargo bike became a political issue - the water bike is not yet succeded.
(Is Laschet Merkel's legacy playful? With our politics newsletter you will always find all the news about the federal election.)
Bundestag election: Scheuer takes criticism lightly - devastating polls for transport ministers
Scheuer took the criticism sportily and thanked for the many comments. In addition, the transport minister announced that on Wednesday evening in the ARD talk Maischberger he would give an answer to the question “why we as the CDU / CSU are smarter than the Greens when it comes to climate issues and the water bike stands for a cleaner future.” The program begins at 10:50 p.m.
Scheuer is one of the most polarizing ministers in the current cabinet. Sections of the opposition repeatedly demand the resignation of the transport minister, who has been criticized for the toll scandal. The Lower Bavarian always gets the backing of his own party as well as Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). Born in Passau, he is not exactly popular with the population either. According to a survey by the opinion research institute Civey on behalf of the
Augsburger Allgemeine
(July), a whopping 87.8 percent of Germans do not want Scheuer to hold a ministerial post in the next government after the general election
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