Robert Habeck explains the consequences of the energy crisis in "Maischberger" - and gets into a tailspin.
"I don't understand it," says the moderator.
Berlin – “It will be a hard winter, it will undoubtedly be politically demanding.
There will be unreasonable demands - at least in terms of price - for the German population," says Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
In the ARD talk "Maischberger" the Green does not save with unpleasant truths.
However, his messages are overshadowed by a passage that seems extremely unsure of himself - which even provided ammunition for opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) in the general debate in the Bundestag the following day.
The world has changed dramatically since the minister's last visit to the show.
Six months ago, on the eve of Russian troops invading Ukraine, the minister sat for an interview on the political talk show.
Now he remembers in the same place "the lump in his throat" that he felt at the time: A few hours earlier he had been informed by US security services about the upcoming invasion, a "historic moment", according to Habeck.
"Maischberger" - these guests discussed with:
Robert Habeck (Greens) - Economics Minister, Vice-Chancellor
Christian Wulff (CDU) - former Federal President
As experts:
Petra Gerster - former "heute" moderator, sits on the advisory board of the E.ON Foundation
Melanie Amann - Head of the
Spiegel 's capital city office
Wolfram Weimer - publicist, founder of the
Weimer Media Group
Habeck wears - like back then - a black tie.
In the meantime, the economic effects of the war have arrived in Germany.
Habeck is now on the show to justify his policy in the worst energy crisis in the history of the Federal Republic.
The presenter doesn't make it easy for him.
But the more stubborn Maischberger persists, the more confident Habeck wants to defend his course and does not shy away from criticism – without naming names – of the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) and coalition partner Christian Lindner (FDP), especially when it comes to nuclear power.
Robert Habeck announces an energy reform for the new price calculation
Expert and publisher Wolfram Weimer also spoke out in the panel of experts in favor of extending the lifetime of the nuclear power plants, with which ten million households could continue to be supplied.
But Habeck makes it clear who has the pants on and has the upper hand in the dispute over possible lifetime extensions: "I am responsible for energy security in Germany!" He warns: "These are nuclear power plants, they are not toys", but a "high Technology".
Instead, he announces the expansion of risk-free forms of energy.
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Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) in conversation with Sandra Maischberger.
© ARD media library (screenshot)
In this context, the minister defended his planned energy reform, which aims to reassess the price calculation of the energy market in Europe so that the "price signals also reach end customers".
Habeck indirectly threatens the liberal traffic light partner: If there is no majority for his plan within the coalition, "then the law will not be changed and then the runtime will end at the end of the year".
Maischberger translates that again for the viewers: "That means you tell Mr. Lindner: 'Either you agree with me, then you can run a little further, maybe in emergency mode - otherwise it will be switched off.'" Habeck does not hide his strategy: The debate initiated by Lindner on price regulation through nuclear power is the wrong one, he thinks.
Nuclear power plays a “minimal role” in pricing.
It is much more important to fundamentally reform the energy market, which should be done across Europe.
Habeck at "Maischberger": bankruptcies, bakeries - and a clueless moderator
Habeck also has a message for Markus Söder, who was invited to an interview with Maischberger on Wednesday.
According to Habeck, Bavaria, in contrast to its home country Schleswig-Holstein, is a country that has blocked the expansion of the grid: "And that's taking revenge now!" In the north, people would now say: "Why are we actually building power lines for the south ?
Let's keep this stuff here!” chatted Habeck.
And further: "Then all the factories will come to us and we will be the Baden-Württemberg or Bavaria of the future!"
"Are you expecting a wave of insolvencies at the end of winter?" Maischberger wants to know.
The minister got into a tailspin, initially said no, then said: "I can imagine that certain sectors would simply stop producing." that people spend money”.
Such companies would then have real problems because there would be a reluctance to buy.
"Then they are not automatically insolvent, but they may stop selling."
Economics Minister strays through the insolvency debate: bankruptcy but not in the end?
Maischberger digs deeper
Maischberger blinks and asks, confused.
"If I stop selling, then I won't earn any more money, then I have to file for bankruptcy...".
"You would then become insolvent if you made ever greater minuses with your work," explains Habeck.
"Yes, but how are you not going to make a bigger loss if you pay people but don't sell anything anymore?
So, how should one... I didn't understand it”, Maischberger gives the Economics Minister the opportunity to try again.
But it doesn't get any better for the Greens.
"I would like to point out that there does not have to be a wave of insolvencies automatically, but it may be that certain transactions are no longer profitable and are discontinued," says Habeck.
Maybe they would be included again later.
Politicians must react to this dangerous situation.
Robert Habeck (Greens), Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
pic.twitter.com/oz4I0dKmQ3
— Tim Röhn (@Tim_Roehn) September 6, 2022
Not only at Maischberger do question marks remain: "So they are broke because they can no longer work, but do not file for bankruptcy?
Well, I think you really have to think about this point again...", the moderator says comparatively mildly.
However, Habeck does not distribute tranquilizer pills either: In contrast to Corona, when politicians decided to bear all the costs, this decision “has not yet been made”, he summarizes and adds: “It was enormously expensive …”
Christian Wulff: The year 2022 will go down in the history books
The Economics Minister currently puts the status of the gas storage facility at around 86 percent.
If it were possible to reduce German gas consumption by 20 percent this winter, "under these conditions it could work out to go into the winter with tension, but not with despair." There would then also be enough gas available for energy supplies to France.
Next winter, the situation will be more relaxed, Habeck says, surprisingly confident and contrary to the assessment of other experts, including Federal Network Agency boss Müller.
Habeck says: "If we get through this winter, it will be easier afterwards".
He predicts that half to two quarters of the lost energy can already be replaced with alternatives through the “expansion of the power grid”, the “ramp up of renewable energies” and the “new terminals”.
Ex-Federal President Christian Wulff is meanwhile sitting relaxed in his armchair and giving food for thought in a conversational tone: "Today I would be a different Federal President," he explains.
Wulff sees a historic year in the current year: "The year 22 will later have a central meaning in the history books, how the world governs where it gives in and where it stands." He calls for unlimited solidarity of the western world with Ukraine on, "with all our possibilities".
In addition, the EU, together with US President Biden and other Western heads of state as well as China's head of state Xi Jinping, must bring the conflicting parties together for diplomatic negotiations.
So that "all things are brought to the table that make one or the other complain in order to find solutions".
"We need peaceful coexistence," said Wulff, "because if Putin's strategy is successful," the "questioning of borders" and a "rules-based order" will lead to "war all over the world."
Conclusion of the “Maischberger.
The week” talks
Robert Habeck gave unvarnished insights into the problem, but also into the possibilities that the crisis brings with it as an opportunity for change.
Christian Wulff's warnings and explanations had an enlightening effect.
(Verena Schulemann/fn)