Green minister surprised at Plasberg about the possible extension of the term: "Yes, of course!"

Created: 09/13/2022, 12:04 p.m

The talk show at “Hart aber fair” on September 12th, 2022.

© IMAGO/Thomas Bartilla

Prices keep going up.

The politicians seem overwhelmed.

Small companies in particular have been badly hit.

Can nuclear power plants stop the price increase? 

Berlin – The energy companies are currently making record profits in the billions.

But the money does not come gushing out like from an open gas source without additional costs, but is currently being taken from the pockets and accounts of those people who are supposed to keep our country's operations and economy alive.

In his “Hart aber fair” talk on ARD, Frank Plasberg wants to discuss with his guests whether nuclear power can change the situation.

"Too expensive gas, not enough electricity: Doesn't nuclear power have to run longer?" is the topic of the show.

Gitta Connemann, the federal chairwoman of the SME and Economic Union and long-time member of the Bundestag for the CDU, refers to the principle of "supply and demand": "The three nuclear power plants currently in operation supply ten million households with electricity," says the lawyer.

She points out that switching off the nuclear power plants - without adequate energy replacement - automatically increases the additional demand.

The union woman: "This will lead to the price increasing further." She warns of the consequences: "People are really getting their hands on it, they don't have time." But a clear signal from the traffic light coalition to the companies is missing currently, is the CDU deputy.

"Hard but fair" - these guests discussed with:

• Tarek Al-Wazir (B90/Greens)

  - Hessian Economics Minister

• Gitta Connemann (CDU)

  - MdB, Federal Chairwoman of the SME and Economic Union

• Prof. Dr.

  Stefan Kooths

  - Vice President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy

• Hermann-Josef Tenhagen

  - Editor-in-Chief Consumer Guide

  Finanztip

• Caterina Künne

  - owner of a bakery chain

The Hessian Economics Minister Tarek Al-Wazir from Bündnis '90/Die Grünen, who is on the show to justify the economic course of his party colleague Robert Habeck, contradicts Connemann's statements.

Al-Wazir refers to the liquidity support and subsidy programs that have already been approved and also announces a planned electricity price cap for smaller companies.

He also brings the tax on "excess" or "accidental profits", as the FDP and CDU call them, for companies that benefit from the crisis, which was already hotly debated in the traffic light, back on the table.

Unlike his party colleagues, the Green does not exclude the operators of solar energy, who are currently benefiting from the crisis.

Baker does the math: Energy costs have risen from 120,000 euros to 1.1 million euros

The editor-in-chief of the consumer advice book

Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, who has been a self-confessed opponent of nuclear power since his studies, is also of the opinion: "We don't need nuclear power plants".

He refers to the offers for expensive electricity "already now", although the nuclear power plants still exist.

But consumer advocates are also missing political solutions.

Tenhagen proposes the “Austrian model”, in which 80 percent of average household consumption is priced.

Only then would the higher prices take effect.

The advantage of this model is a built-in savings incentive.

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Bakery entrepreneur Caterina Künne, with seven branches and 60 employees in Lower Saxony, describes what the situation on the "economic front" is like at the moment.

Künne discussed with Frank Plasberg in the round.

The moderator names the numbers that the baker has had to juggle with since the dawn of time: Instead of 120,000 euros a year, now over 1.1 million euros a year - according to the latest offer from a provider to cover her energy needs.

Künne sits visibly stricken in the show and states that many of the around 250,000 bakers registered in Germany are currently feeling the same way.

A colleague has currently been downgraded from 8,000 to 75,000 euros per month.

Künne announces: "Something has to happen from December, otherwise we'll go bankrupt".

CDU politician criticizes traffic light government: There is no signal to the people

Al-Wazir also has to admit that there is a lack of a short-term solution.

He admits that the “energy transition” will not be achieved by the new year.

CDU Mrs. Connemann uses the political admission to attack from the opposition corner: The energy transition is a long-term strategy, "which is not helping companies and families today," she exclaims indignantly and paints the devil on the wall: "Without help, in two years, 50 percent of the bakeries will no longer be there.” There is no “traffic light signal” that shows people: “We will be seen, we will be noticed”.

Instead of "appeasing", the SME expert says that "solutions should be sought together".

For this she gets applause from the audience.

The talk show at “Hart aber fair” on September 12th, 2022.

In the middle Gitta Connemann, left bakery owner Künne.

© WDR/Thomas Kierok

Green minister surprised at Plasberg about the possible extension of the term: "Yes, of course!"

In response, the Green Minister put on the well-known record: "We have not advanced the energy transition for what Ms. Connemann is responsible for," he throws the buck at the Union woman and accuses her of wanting to distract from "what you left us".

But then the state minister surprisingly caved in on the matter of nuclear power: According to Al-Wazir, it could be that "in November/December" it could be said that "the two southern German power plants have to remain connected to the grid for another three and a half months".

Plasberg senses the coup and nails the statement: "You interpret the emergency reserve in such a way that you say with the appropriate advance: Will you continue to produce?" "Yes, of course," confirms Al-Wazir, surprisingly candidly.

World economics expert predicts at Plasberg: Inflation hammer is yet to come

Plasberg has its answer when it comes to nuclear power.

But another question remains unanswered: "The inflation hammer is yet to come, isn't it?"

Stephen Kooths.

He agrees: "We don't expect the peak until the next half-year", since this would gradually "be passed on to energy prices".

You have arrived in regions that nobody would have expected before.

The professor tries to offer some small consolation: "I don't want to sound cynical," he begins soothingly, "but it makes it a bit easier, of course, because all of your competitors also have a similar situation."

Baker Künne is not convinced: "How exactly are we supposed to pass this on to the customers?" she asks in a desperate voice.

According to their calculations, the price of a roll would rise from 40 cents, which is already more expensive, to 80 cents.

Conclusion of the "hard but fair" talk

That was largely a talk in the “pastoral care” category.

Much whining, little solution.

In addition, the party bickering between the guests from the Greens and Union spectrum.

And the surprising U-turn by the minister from Hesse on the nuclear power plant question, which, however, was not dealt with in any more detail.