Kretschmann: Dispute over combustion car no drama

Created: 06/28/2022, 15:35

Winfried Kretschmann (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) speaks at a government press conference.

© Bernd Weißbrod/dpa

Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann does not consider the dispute in the federal government about the end of new combustion cars from 2035 to be problematic at all.

"Dispute is the spice of a democracy," said the Green politician on Tuesday in Stuttgart.

"It's normal to argue.

It just needs to be argued in a civilized manner - and that's the case."

Stuttgart - You don't have to see civilized disputes as "drama".

The EU environment ministers wanted to vote on the future of combustion cars on Tuesday.

In the crucial meeting of the EU countries, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) advocated a possible end for new combustion engines in cars from 2035, despite criticism from the FDP. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) was surprised.

Combustion engines with CO2-free fuels should also be possible in all vehicles after 2035.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the impression that there was a heated argument in the federal government.

Many proposals are still being developed at EU level, so that interim results do not make sense.

"But we actually agree to act as one," said the SPD politician on Tuesday at the final press conference of the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau in Bavaria.

Kretschmann said he did not want to comment on the content of the dispute.

Nevertheless, the Green made his position clear: "It is well known that I am not the biggest fan of reference dates for the phasing out of combustion engines." He lamented a huge competition to see who could achieve the toughest goals.

In the executive, he is rather concerned with achieving the goals.

Whenever the end of the combustion engine will come, care must be taken to ensure that the charging infrastructure also corresponds to this.

dpa