Cem Özdemir and Peter Altmaier are good friends and share their love for good food. Nevertheless, the government gets its fat off from the ex-economics minister.
When Markus Lanz moderated Cem Özdemir (Greens) and Peter Altmaier (CDU) on Tuesday evening, describing their friendship, both repeatedly turned their heads to the side, looked at each other briefly and fell into embarrassed smiles. "If you like to eat as much as Peter Altmaier, you can't be a bad person," Lanz quotes Economics Minister Özdemir.
When Markus Lanz talks about the dispute between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, which has been smouldering since the beginning of his term in office, he asks, "why do many of the Greens suddenly see red?" Altmaier does not go into this, but answers in general terms: "Whoever makes politics, who makes decisions, also makes mistakes." However, he calls on the government to "work together honestly". When asked by Lanz, FAZ journalist Julia Löhr confirmed that the political climate had never been so hardened: "This debate about the heating law is indeed something that I have never experienced before. One of the problems is that the current government - and especially Mr. Habeck - is taking the second step before the first." Löhr describes the conflicts between Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) as a "battle of egos".
Markus Lanz – These guests will join the discussion on 6 June:
- Cem Özdemir (Greens) – Minister of Agriculture
- Julia Löhr – Editor at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
- Peter Altmaier (CDU) – Ex-Minister of Economics
- Christian Mölling – Military expert
- Daniel Bachmann – Civil Engineer
Agriculture Minister Özdemir punished Löhr with sharp looks at Markus Lanz on ZDF and denied her view of things. Rather, it is the case that the coalition is forced to "change a few things in order to remain the fourth largest economy in the world." "Clear measures" are needed to maintain Germany's competitiveness. One should not "sit back and do nothing". And then follows a broadside against buddy Altmaier: "We had enough of that and that didn't do the country any good."
Altmaier: People are afraid for their possessions
Altmaier also criticizes the traffic light coalition, but emphatically restrained. It is important to him that the discussion "does not become personal". The former economy minister says: "People are afraid for their possessions and their life's work. The middle class in particular is worried about the heating law." Nevertheless, Altmaier is very concerned about harmony. He says that the debate must not lead to a "political division": "You always have to respect your political opponent in his dignity." A sentence that sounds as melodious as it is meaningless. Altmaier is more specific with a view to the growing popularity of the AfD. Voters on the right-wing fringe had doubts that Robert Habeck was working for the benefit of the country and its citizens. This is also a result of the personal political debate.
Former Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) talks to "Markus Lanz" about the industrial policy situation in Germany as well as about the danger of a loss of prosperity and a further division of society. © Markus Hertrich/ZDF
FAZ editor Löhr on housing shortage and inflation: Barrel will eventually overflow
Löhr does not consider it surprising that there is more friction between three parties than in a two-party alliance. As a result, she agrees with Altmaier and adds that there are other aspects that unsettle people: too few apartments, too few daycare places, plus inflation and the war. "Then, for some, the barrel overflowed at some point." As soon as it affects people directly, they are very sensitive.
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Surprisingly, Altmaier sided with the so-called "climate glue" of the "last generation": "We can't say clearly enough that the climate stickers violate laws and that must be punished. But then we can't say that if we as politicians have to implement a law, we don't care." Özdemir agreed, which demanded a laugh from Lanz: "That's about the position of Luisa Neubauer last week."
Özdemir criticises Altmaier: Could have been at a different point today
However, contrary to Altmaier's wish, Löhr does not miss the opportunity to get personal: "If you, as a minister, had been the climate protector that you present yourself as here, then we would not have many of the discussions we are having today." At that time, no one was talking about heaters. Climate protection has looked like that numbers have been written into laws. Unsurprisingly, the CDU politician contradicts this view: "One can accuse the government of which I belonged to many things. But it's not that in 2005 or 2006 we didn't achieve the goals that all of us in the world or in Europe didn't set ourselves until 2020 or 2021." Cem Özdemir looks puzzled and counters: "We would be at a different point today if we had tackled the entry into renewable energies and the expansion of the grids at the same time as the nuclear phase-out."
Markus Lanz – The conclusion of the show
Does the show now end with a personal crisis between Özdemir and Altmaier? No, certainly not. It is said that there is no place for true friendships in politics. But you buy it from the two of them. Nevertheless, both do not just throw cotton balls, but criticize each other's policies. Thanks to the FAZ journalist Julia Löhr, some tips are set that contribute to the enlivening of the discussion. Altmaier provides the biggest bang when he defends the so-called "climate glue". (Christoph Heuser)
