Two influential heads of their party – and not always of the same opinion: the Green politicians Robert Habeck and Winfried Kretschmann. © IMAGO / Political-Moments
Again and again, Greens from the south of the republic put the brakes on their Federal Minister of Economics. Now Winfried Kretschmann has his say.
Hanover/Munich – Anger from a political opponent? Robert Habeck is used to it. Trouble in the coalition? Too. However, trouble in his own party is rare for the Green Federal Minister – and delicate. But that's exactly what he's coming up with now. The leading Green politicians from the south of the republic are demanding serious changes to the heating law from Habeck – shouts, not only behind closed doors, which he can hardly ignore.
Kretschmann sees "exaggerated" heating debate
When he opens today's edition of Die Zeit, Habeck will find a controversial statement by his party colleague Winfried Kretschmann, Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg. "It's all a bit exaggerated with the heating debate," says Kretschmann. The heat transition is not the biggest problem in the country, and so it does not matter "a few months" back or forth. "Proceeding with a complex structure such as heating systems with bans is a ride on the razor's edge," says the 75-year-old, who has just had a wood pellet heating system installed in his own house in Upper Swabia. Habeck had been "too fast": "Politics is a very pragmatic event, you can't put your head through the wall."
Previously, Bavarian Green politicians, led by top candidate Ludwig Hartmann, had demanded changes to the heating law from Habeck. "We need to better explain why we want to heat renewably," Hartmann told the Münchner Merkur. He also called on Habeck to include wood-fired heating systems as renewable energy, including in new buildings. Subsequently, it is heard, the lines between Munich and the Berlin Green leaders glowed.
Since then, compromise signals have been heard from Habeck. The current draft law stipulates that, as a rule, new heating systems may only be installed from 2024 if they can be operated with at least 65 percent renewable energies. The minister suggested that this should possibly be limited to new buildings for the time being and that existing buildings should not be put into effect until later. He is also willing to talk about wood and pellets: "I'm sure there's more to it." He also promised a district heating offensive in the cities.
Tight schedule: Will the heating law come before the summer break?
A solution has not been found. At an appearance on Wednesday afternoon at the Sparkassentag in Hanover, the Minister of Economics nevertheless campaigned a little more optimistically, one could "hopefully pass before the summer holidays". The summer recess begins after 7 July, when the Federal Council also meets. In the abstract, Habeck warned against falling "into a state of shock" on important issues and pursuing politics as a "miserable, fear-mongering, catastrophe prophet". However, the coalition does not agree on the content of the law or the timetable.
From the FDP came again slowing contributions. "For us Free Democrats, the quality of the law is still more important than the schedule," said construction policy spokesman Daniel Föst, also from Bavaria. "There is still a lot of work to be done on the heating law." The Liberals had sent several dozen questions about the law to Habeck.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also promised at an appearance in Hanover: "No one will be overwhelmed by what we will decide and what we will implement, we will take care of that." There will be targeted subsidies, Scholz said vaguely. The Chancellor prefers to leave the details to others.