"Insolvent" or not?

A week after Habeck, the BDI boss points out a problem at "Illner".

Created: 09/16/2022, 11:53 am

The round at "Maybrit Illner" on September 15, 2022 (from left): Prof. Siegfried Russwurm, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, Maybrit Illner, Manuela Schwesig, Yasmin Fahimi, Johannes Vogel.

© Svea Pietschmann/ZDF

The third relief package comes, but the economy groans.

The group discussed an energy price cap.

Manuela Schwesig explains about Nord Stream 2.

Berlin – Energy price shock and inflation are hitting Germany hard.

The unions are fighting for higher wages and the government is promoting tax-free one-off payments.

But the number of insolvencies is now increasing - more and more companies need help themselves.

In August there were 718 bankruptcies, 26 percent more than a year ago.

The companies in their constituency in Thuringia need immediate help, but also a perspective, explains Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens) at Maybrit Illner: "Entrepreneurs can also deal with uncertain situations, but they have to know what energy prices will be like in the next few years will."

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had previously agreed families to additional energy costs in the four-digit range.

Private households receive a one-time payment to cushion the impact.

“But how high are the additional costs for small companies?

Has Habeck forgotten the medium-sized companies?” asks Maybrit Illner.

Göring-Eckardt shakes his head, "No, he didn't, that's why he did it this week."

"Maybrit Illner" - these guests discussed with:

• Manuela Schwesig (SPD)

  - Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

• Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens)

  - Vice President of the German Bundestag

• Siegfried Russwurm

  - President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI)

• Yasmin Fahimi

  - Chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), SPD member

• Johannes Vogel (FDP)

  - Parliamentary Secretary of the FDP parliamentary group

BDI chairman Siegfried Russwurm has figures from his own (non-representative) survey ready.

Of the 600 companies that took part in his survey, one in five has already decided or is currently considering outsourcing production from Germany.

"I am particularly concerned that 40 percent say they can no longer implement planned investments in modernization," says Russwurm.

There is a mistake in public perception, you just look at bankruptcies.

“Many do not go bankrupt, but simply close the shop.

That's why it's wrong to just look at bankruptcies.

The operational tasks are crucial.” Ironically, the statement awakens memories of Habeck's much scolded appearance at Talk colleague Sandra Maischberger.

Yasmin Fahimi: Don't need any theory debates

First of all, Yasmin Fahimi emphasizes her appreciation for the traffic light coalition's third relief package.

“Nevertheless, we are all very concerned about the economic situation, but also about private households.

They are also up to their necks in water," says the DGB chairwoman.

Their demand is clear: “Energy prices need to be reduced because that is what drives inflation.

We don't need any theory debates now, the price has to go down."

The boss of the insolvent toilet paper manufacturer Hakle has complained that the situation could have been averted with faster state aid.

Manuela Schwesig speaks plainly: "We have three relief packages, but there is no concrete help for the economy." The help must come in good time.

"We need an energy price cap, at least for a year or two, so that companies can plan again with certainty." Russwurm nods in agreement.

Schwesig has a model in mind that subsidizes basic energy requirements.

However, the government has a different approach.

FDP Vice Johannes Vogel initially defended the plans.

“Russia is waging an economic war against us, for which we were indeed ill-prepared.

But there isn't just one instrument to deal with the crisis," he says.

It is clear, however, that the electricity market must be regulated.

Vogel's aim is that the most expensive energy source currently determines the entire electricity price - regardless of how cheap other energy sources are.

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Fahimi is relieved.

She was recently accused of wanting such interventions in the market.

"Why are these proposals coming so late, does it have anything to do with the dispute on the open stage between the SPD, Greens and FDP?" asks Maybrit Illner.

"I don't think so," says Vogel.

Different positions within the government "we have to endure".

Göring-Eckardt: "Big, great achievement" by the government

Göring-Eckardt points to the joint successes of the government.

"The gas storage tanks are full, that's a pretty blatant, big achievement when you see where we were at the beginning of the year." Schwesig recalls Friedrich Merz's call for a gas embargo.

"Olaf Scholz and Robert Habeck explained why this is not possible.

If we had issued an embargo, we wouldn't have made it through the winter," says the Prime Minister.

A proposal for a new design of the electricity market comes from Brussels from the EU Commission: 180 euros per megawatt hour, then it's over.

Energy producers should also pay every euro to relieve consumers.

Ursula von der Leyen expects 140 billion euros to dampen energy prices in Germany.

Manuela Schwesig demands speed.

"I don't think it will go well for several more weeks," she says.

Illner is already wondering whether the Economics Minister will ultimately be held responsible if the measures don't work.

"Robert Habeck is working on cleaning up the omissions of the last few years, like a clearance squad," says Göring-Eckardt.

Schwesig's promotion of Nord Stream 2 because of cheap energy

If Schwesig is sitting on a talk show these days, the topic of Nord Stream 2 should not be missing.

A project that the Prime Minister helped to advance.

"We have always supported Nord Stream so that there is cheap energy," explains Schwesig.

In 2021, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania established a foundation together with Gazprom to circumvent American sanctions.

"I wouldn't do that with the knowledge I have today.

At that time, we had the situation that Donald Trump threatened sanctions to companies that had been working on a pipeline approved by the rule of law," says Schwesig.

With Russia attacking Ukraine, it was decided that the foundation would be wound up.

The establishment of the foundation was decided in the state parliament without a dissenting vote.

"Everything was transparent," says Schwesig, "the purpose of the foundation was discussed."

The then Chancellor Angela Merkel was also informed.

Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Manuela Schwesig (SPD) as a guest at "Maybrit Illner".

© Svea Pietschmann/ZDF

But Göring-Eckardt does not want to let that stand, she clearly criticizes it.

"Russia's war against Ukraine began in 2014," says the Green Party - and appeals to Schwesig: "I don't want us to get into the situation again where we try to moderate it.

Only then was Nord Stream 2 built.

Before that, Alexej Navalny was poisoned, MH 17 shot down, the Tiergarten murder, Crimea taken.

All these things happened.

I and Annalena Baerbock, by the way, have made it clear: Putin will wage this economic war against us.”  

Conclusion of the "Maybrit Illner" talk

When even liberals speak out in favor of regulating a market, that shows how serious the situation is.

The group agrees that the energy price for consumers and entrepreneurs must be reduced.

The talks are characterized by mutual agreement and few conflicts.

Only when Manuela Schwesig commented on Nord Stream 2 did Katrin Göring-Eckardt dare a confrontational approach.

Although Schwesig refuses to express regret or admit a mistake, she does state that from today's perspective she would have made a different decision.