Two like wind and sun: Habeck and Söder - What can be heard between the niceties

Created: 01/21/2022, 08:10

By: Sebastian Horsch

In Bavaria, the wind power has so far only been blowing a mild breeze.

That has to change, the new climate minister Robert Habeck made clear during his inaugural visit to Markus Söder.

Munich – Robert Habeck looks around. Arriving at the lectern, he has just pulled his FFP2 mask off his face. After all, the traffic light super minister for climate protection and the economy is supposed to answer press questions here in Munich. But when he sees that Prime Minister Markus Söder is not ready yet, Habeck quickly puts the mask back on – only to take the Corona utensil down again a few seconds later, this time in unison with the host.

Habeck and Söder – the two staging professionals – are obviously trying to be as courteous as possible this Thursday morning. At a joint working breakfast, the Green Federal Minister and the CSU Prime Minister just talked about how Bavaria can make progress with wind power. Up to now there has been no more than a gentle breeze blowing in the Free State. Habeck believes this is due to the 10H rule that has been in force in Bavaria since 2014, which does not allow wind turbines around two kilometers around a settlement. Söder sees no connection there. And now the two are standing in the Prinz-Carl-Palais in Munich's Hofgarten, showering each other with kindness.

The "intellectual honesty" that is needed to deal with facts correctly is "very pronounced" with this Green, flutes Söder in a soft voice.

And the North German Habeck almost slips into kitschy when he explains that he "politically always felt very comfortable with the Bavarian way, which somehow also speaks to me".

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Habeck and Söder: The two strong men in their parties have known and appreciated each other for a long time

It's not just a spectacle. The two strong men in their parties have known and appreciated each other for a long time. A good year ago - when a black-green federal government seemed likely in a politically different world - they even conducted a double interview with

. But despite all the mutual goodwill, more serious words should have been spoken at the Munich coffee table. Ultimately, Habeck wants what Söder doesn't want - many more wind turbines throughout Bavaria. And between the niceties, you can clearly hear on Thursday that basically nothing has changed.

By March, Söder is to report to Berlin on how he wants to restart the expansion of wind power in Bavaria, which, according to Habeck, has “completely come to a standstill”.

"I'm really looking forward to it," says the climate minister.

Söder, on the other hand, notes that wind is "incredibly likeable from afar, sometimes quite overwhelming up close".

It is difficult to say whether this description could not have applied a little to Habeck himself.

Robert Habeck (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen - r), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, and Markus Söder (CSU), Prime Minister of Bavaria, come together for talks in the State Chancellery.

© Tobias Hase/dpa

"We are ready to talk about exceptions," says Söder.

But you also have to respect the regional natural conditions.

Water, sun, geothermal energy - in Bavaria, when it comes to climate-friendly energy production, "everywhere is at the forefront, just not with the wind".

But neighboring Baden-Württemberg is not doing well either, although there is no 10H rule there and a green wind power fan has ruled for years.

Wind power in Bavaria: Habeck can also have the 10H rule overturned from Berlin

In the end, the decisive question should be how Habeck will deal with this charmingly presented defiance from Bavaria if he ultimately does not like what Söder is proposing to him.

Finally, the means he has as federal minister also allow him to easily have the 10H regulation overturned from Berlin.

If that happens, Bavaria will have to deal with it, says Söder.

"We chose a different path," stresses Habeck on Thursday.

Instead of coercion, he relies on sparking a “positive dynamic” and “ecological patriotism”.

With wind power, you have to end the "downward cycle" that every federal state is trying to be the "biggest inhibitor".

"Bayern always plays offensively," says Söder.

He wants to see that, says Habeck.