The traffic light parties regularly carry out their conflicts in public. "Markus Lanz" asks why those involved are going down this path.
Hamburg – The SPD celebrated its 23th anniversary on May 160. However, the ongoing dispute within the traffic light coalition is likely to have dampened the festive mood mightily. At the beginning of his broadcast, Markus Lanz asks the SPD chairman and bread ambassador 2023, Lars Klingbeil, about the durability of this alliance.
Klingbeil describes the past few weeks as a "difficult time", but still believes that the traffic light will last until the next federal election in autumn 2025. Michael Bröcker shares this view. However, the journalist also says that too much has happened between the Greens and the FDP.
"Markus Lanz" – these were his guests on 24 May
- Lars Klingbeil, politician (SPD)
- Michael Bröcker, Journalist ("Media Pioneer")
- Ursula Weidenfeld, economic expert
- Jonas Kratzenberg, ex-Bundeswehr soldier
In a fitting clip, Robert Habeck accuses the FDP of breaking its word with regard to the drafted Building Energy Act (GEG). Klingbeil then refrains from "hitting" the FDP because he does not want to reinforce the impression of a quarreling traffic light. In any case, he is not a friend of settling conflicts on the open stage.
Lanz is nevertheless trying to lure the SPD leader out of his reserve. In a short video, Christian Lindner can be seen stabbing his coalition partners in the back at a panel discussion regarding the GEG at the beginning of May. But even here, Klingbeil remains calm and only demands that the traffic light parties "pull themselves together".
The SPD leader Lars Klingbeil comments on the Building Energy Act at "Markus Lanz". He also comments on the current situation in the Ukraine war. © Cornelia Lehmann/ZDF
Olaf Scholz is reprimanded by "Markus Lanz" for his restraint
Meanwhile, economic expert Ursula Weidenfeld shows the viewers of "Markus Lanz" how appropriate the FDP's skepticism on the subject of the heating transition is in part. Consumers who have recently switched to a heat pump, for example, could face the next challenge in a few years' time, according to Weidenfeld, if their municipality switches to district heating and pushes them to convert again.
Klingbeil signals that the traffic light has long recognized this danger and refers to the transitional period of ten years, which is already anchored in the GEG. For Bröcker, however, far too many points remain unresolved before the law is passed, which is why he shares the FDP's concerns. On the other hand, he believes that public confrontation is the wrong way to go.
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Klingbeil also condemns the attacks of the FDP, which are mainly directed against the Greens. Especially since it turns the voters in his eyes against the climate protection measures. Weidenfeld sees the blame for this much more with the SPD, because the Social Democrats would mediate too little between the FDP and the Greens.
Bröcker agrees with the author and attacks Olaf Scholz in this context. The Chancellor must focus more and more frequently on sensitive issues. Otherwise, other parties, such as the AfD currently, would receive too much support.
Despite this argument, Klingbeil once again speaks out against publicly discussing conflicts between the traffic light partners.
"Markus Lanz": Does the SPD benefit from Green-bashing?
Lanz, meanwhile, believes he has recognized why the SPD is conspicuously leaning back in the dispute between the Liberals and the Greens. The ZDF presenter insinuates that the Social Democrats even support the dispute between the coalition partners, as this would cause Robert Habeck in particular to lose sympathy. Before the next Bundestag election, a competitor is thus weakened in the race.
Klingbeil replies that he has increasingly taken note of this assertion in the recent past. He describes the insinuation as "absolute nonsense". Bröcker, on the other hand, already believes that the SPD is acting against the Greens because it is afraid of being replaced by the Greens as a left-wing people's party.
In order to free himself from this accusation, Klingbeil assures that the Building Energy Act initiated by the Greens will be passed by the summer break. "The thing will come," promises the former national chairman of the Jusos emphatically. Bröcker has a completely different opinion. Before that, elementary points would have to be clarified, which are currently in limbo.
Journalist denounces the excessively high industrial electricity prices at "Markus Lanz"
When Markus Lanz once again talks about Economics Minister Robert Habeck, who was not present at the meeting between Olaf Scholz and some of the big names in the automotive industry, criticism flares up again. Bröcker cannot understand the Chancellor's approach in view of the growing shortage of skilled workers in our country.
Klingbeil then defends Scholz. After all, he would also meet regularly with CEOs to talk about the "difficult energy transition", for example. Weidenfeld, however, recognizes a contradiction between the growing energy costs, which are supposed to drive climate protection, and the equally increasing subsidies.
According to Klingbeil, politicians want to use the subsidies to help companies get through the "tough years" by 2030. "If there are still companies left that can support it," Bröcker counters. The journalist sees the relatively high taxes on industrial electricity prices as the main reason for the exodus of numerous corporations. For investors, Germany is therefore no longer an attractive address.
"Markus Lanz": Ex-Bundeswehr soldier went to war because of German passivity
Since the traffic light parties have opposing opinions on almost all issues, Lanz wants to know from Lars Klingbeil at the end whether there is still unity, at least with regard to the war in Ukraine. The SPD leader then declares that the coalition still stands united behind Ukraine.
Jonas Kratzenberg would have liked to see this unconditional support from the government earlier. The former Bundeswehr soldier claims to have volunteered for the Ukraine war because Germany showed too little initiative at the beginning of the war.
The Rhinelander describes how he was immediately sent to the front last year without background checks. There, a drone attack ultimately injured him so badly that he had to travel home. Since then, a clearly visible scar has adorned the left side of his head.
Meanwhile, when he talks about atrocities in Bucha, Kratzenberg becomes visibly emotional. Although he saw Russia's "killing rage" with his own eyes, especially there, he does not regret his decision to go to war. Instead, he is asking for further support for Ukraine.
"Markus Lanz" – The conclusion of the show
The SPD must mediate more actively between the FDP and the Greens so that the traffic light does not break apart before the federal elections in autumn 2025. The party alliance should also be more united on its own core issues. After all, the constant quarrel and the accompanying passivity of the government threaten not only the reputation of the coalition partners, but above all the jobs of their voters. (Kevin Richau)