In "Markus Lanz", FDP politician Christian Dürr criticizes the climate activists of the "last generation" for untenable demands.
Hamburg – The FDP suffered severe defeats in the last state elections.
Markus Lanz asked Christian Dürr directly on Thursday evening who was to blame for this failure.
The parliamentary group leader shared the responsibility for the electoral defeats across his party, but gave no specific reason for the loss of votes.
Petra Pinzler is ready to give Dürr a helping hand.
In her eyes, the citizens are angry with the FDP because they simply don't keep their election promises.
She is committed to innovation, but slows down noticeably.
"My impression is that it prevents a lot," says the economic expert.
Debate at Markus Lanz: The FDP also wants to save the climate
Dürr counters this and recalls that Transport Minister Volker Wissing has just received an innovation award.
However, it was about autonomous parking, adds the moderator and addresses Dürr to a contradiction.
The FDP acts as a climate rescuer, but at the same time promotes the expansion of the motorways.
The one does not have to exclude the other, the politician replies.
Belit Onay, Mayor of Hanover and member of the Greens, sees a contradiction here because, according to him, there is no such thing as a “climate highway”.
Instead, the focus must be directed to the public transport sector.
Dürr reiterates that he doesn't want to rule out any options.
On the contrary, his party is trying to keep all options open to save our planet.
FDP plays in the climate rescue on time - Dürr as a guest with Markus Lanz
Dürr is pinning his hopes, for example, on synthetic fuels, so-called e-fuels.
For this reason, the FDP speaks out against a ban on combustion engines from 2035.
According to Dürr, the cars would ultimately be climate-neutral thanks to the new fuel.
Markus Lanz destroys this castle in the air by mentioning how energy-intensive the production of synthetic fuels is, especially in relation to electric cars.
Dürr stands up and emphasizes the possibility of energy storage as a major advance in e-fuels.
Accusation at Markus Lanz: FDP has no ideas to combat the climate crisis
However, Onay estimates that the new vehicles will initially only find a few buyers because of the conversion and the associated costs.
And this is exactly where Pinzler sees the FDP's main problem when it comes to climate measures: The party simply thinks too long-term.
"I don't feel that urgency," says the journalist.
Pinzler is also dissatisfied that the FDP does not present any useful ideas for combating the climate crisis apart from e-fuels.
Dürr rejects this accusation.
One makes oneself strong, for example, for nuclear fusion.
Lanz reminds the top politician that this technology will probably only be usable in 30 years.
The moderator is also not a fan of wasting e-fuels on private cars, as fuels offer far greater benefits to the industry.
Green politician on his future model: "You will not need a car"
Onay chooses a different approach than the FDP with regard to the climate goals.
He is in favor of reducing road traffic in the cities.
The Greens politician presents some designs for Hanover, where green areas replace the existing parking spaces in the city.
This measure would counteract overheating in the cities in summer, for example.
"Markus Lanz" - these were his guests on March 2nd
Christian Dürr
, politician (FDP)
Petra Pinzler
, economics expert ("Die Zeit")
Belit Onay
, Lord Mayor (B'90/The Greens)
Onay already sees the car as a cost item and less as an instrument for participating in social life.
In his eyes, the future belongs to public transport and bicycles.
Pinzler sees opposition to this idea in the outskirts and rural areas.
Here, people who depend on their car might feel left out.
"This is not a declaration of war," emphasizes Onay.
His proposal serves as an invitation to shape a climate-friendly ZFE future.
The moderator then asks how he should get a large purchase home by bike.
Onay has a solution for this problem as well.
He would like to promote local shops more so that consumers no longer have to go to shopping malls.
"You won't need a car," he predicts confidently.
Dürr speaks to Markus Lanz of "totalitarian tendencies" among climate activists
Onay recently made headlines because he sat down at a negotiating table with activists from the "Last Generation" to stop the ongoing protests in his city - with success.
With “Markus Lanz” he explains how he managed to do this.
The Greens politician explains that there was anyway a consensus on the demand for a speed limit and a worthy successor to the 9-euro ticket.
He promised to promote the realization of these wishes by contacting the federal government.
Dürr condemns the cooperation with the "Last Generation".
He sees "totalitarian tendencies" in the protest group, since the activists want to be involved in legislation with a convened council.
The 45-year-old would never allow himself to be blackmailed by these people.
Lanz asks Onay whether he feels blackmailed.
The Lower Saxony says no to this question because he is pursuing goals similar to those of the "last generation".
Finally, Pinzler affirmed that there would be fewer protests if the federal government stuck more firmly to its climate targets.
Markus Lanz - The conclusion of the show
The FDP obviously suffers from a distorted self-image.
Group leader Christian Dürr sees his party as a driver of innovation, while many voters only perceive it as a brake that blocks most sensible projects to save the climate.
In the eyes of the group, the FDP also did not recognize the seriousness of the situation.
It is closed to short-term and effective measures and thus endangers Germany's climate goals.
(Kevin Richau)
