German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke on stage on Saturday of the "Long Night of Time" in Hamburg. © Jonas Walzberg/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++
Time is running out for the implementation of the Heating Act, but Chancellor Scholz is demonstrating composure – but also criticized the culture of discussion in the coalition.
Hamburg – For weeks, the traffic light coalition has been arguing about the heating law. The next week of meetings is scheduled for mid-June. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was quite relaxed in this regard. Everyone is always "a little bit right," said the Chancellor on Saturday evening at the "Long Night of Time" event in Hamburg. Obviously, Scholz would like to see a different tone in the coalition's internal heating dispute from time to time, as he indicated in a commentary.
Scholz on heating dispute in the coalition: "It squeaks from time to time"
Only one in five people in Germany is satisfied with the work of the traffic light coalition, according to the Deutschlandtrend survey published on Thursday – it was the weakest result since the alliance began its work. The heating dispute is causing problems for the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, and there is still no end in sight. "It squeaks from time to time because the curve is so sharp," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz admitted on Saturday evening discord in the coalition. Everyone is always "a little bit right," the Federal Chancellor added diplomatically.
At the same time, however, he also criticized the tone of the discussion: "Couldn't they present it a little more quietly?" he often wonders, Scholz admitted with a smile. The conflict can only be resolved "by proceeding as pragmatically as possible, by not being too proud to accept criticism, and then working out a good solution – and that is exactly what everyone involved is trying to do." The goal is clear: climate neutrality must also be achieved in the building sector by 2045, said the Federal Chancellor. "This is the greatest industrial modernization of our country."
Since the planned replacement of old heating systems affects many people, this is "immediately suitable for excitement." The previous government had defined climate targets in the distant future and then did too little to achieve them, Scholz said. According to the survey conducted by Deutschlandtrend on Thursday, two-thirds (67 percent) of people in Germany are currently worried that the planned measures for climate-friendly heating would overwhelm them financially.
Time is running out: heating dispute would have to go into the first round of consultations in mid-June
Originally, the heating law was supposed to be decided in the Bundestag before the summer recess so that it could come into force at the turn of the year. From the beginning of 2024, at least 65 percent of every newly installed heating system would be powered by green energy. However, the time for the implementation of the law is now short. In order to keep to the timetable, a consultation would have to take place in the next part-session week from 12 June. Due to fundamental concerns, the FDP had so far prevented the draft law, which had already been passed by the cabinet, from being dealt with in the Bundestag. FDP politician Stephan Thomae made it clear in an interview with Merkur.de, however, that the liberals will not allow themselves to be put under time pressure. "It's not about making laws as quickly as possible, it's about making laws that are as good as possible."
The Greens seem to be the losers of the dispute in terms of their worst poll results since 2018. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock backed Economics Minister Robert Habeck, who is also a Green Party. "When there is a headwind, especially when there is a nasty headwind, it is important to stand together. And that's what Robert and I are doing," Baerbock told the newspapers of the Funke media group on Saturday. In the debate about the heating law, there also seems to be a winner: The AfD recently reached record levels in polls and was at 19 percent, on a par with the SPD. (Bettina Menzel)
