DrAccording to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the leaders of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP „have made very good progress” with the intermittent coalition committee. „Many, many agreements have been reached,” the SPD politician said on Monday after arriving in Rotterdam, where the chancellor and several ministers wanted to take part in the German-Dutch government consultations.
Schulz said the coalition committee revolved around important decisions for the country’s modernization and Germany’s progress. “We know that there have been many decades where everything has progressed very slowly. That has to change and it will change.” The conversations so far have been very confidential and cordial. And that’s a good basis for continuing the conversation on Tuesday.
The Traffic Lights coalition of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democratic Party initially boycotted their high-level talks on Monday. The meeting is scheduled to continue on Tuesday. The consultations began early Sunday evening in the chancellery. Before the top meeting, Schultz was optimistic that there would be tangible results.
The parties said on Monday afternoon that the parties concerned „have made a lot of progress in trust and constructive talks.” However, the meeting was interrupted by German-Dutch government consultations in Rotterdam. Hence, the talks in the coalition committee will continue tomorrow morning. Schultz is traveling with seven ministers for consultations.
„The end of the negotiations is in sight,” Hepstreet said.
Not many conversations came out. In the morning, government spokesman Stephen Heppistreit, referring to a phone call with Chancellor Scholz, said, „The end of the negotiations is imminent.” He also spoke of a „good result”. Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) spoke on Twitter at noon. “Clumsiness, lack of sleep – C.C.L.,” he wrote. He did not elaborate.
Meeting in the chancellery, the coalition partners wanted to find solutions to a long list of contentious issues. This includes the transportation sector. The FDP not only wants to build railroads faster, but also highways. The Greens rejected this in advance. They insisted on doing more to protect the climate in transportation in order to achieve a transformation.
According to figures released by the Federal Environment Agency, greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector increased last year. Specifications in the Climate Protection Act for allowable annual emissions are missed. The FDP rejects a general speed limit on highways, as well as reforming corporate car taxes.
At issue in the run-up to the formation of the coalition committee were plans to replace heating systems with oil and gas and funding for basic children’s insurance.
The tone has recently become harsher
Irene Mihalik, the Greens’ first parliamentary director, said on ARD„morning magazine”: „We have a lot of tasks ahead of us that we urgently need to deal with, especially in the field of the climate crisis.” Much has already been achieved in the expansion of renewable energies, but now we also need to look to other areas. Heating is reported in the construction and transport sector.
Mihalik’s proposal to gradually replace the heating system was taken up by Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Green) and Construction Minister Clara Jewitz (SPD). Of course, these are also important points that need to be discussed extensively. And if the price for that is an overnight session, then please. But the main thing is that we are really struggling to find solutions.” She defended the plans, which envisage the installation of new heating systems from 2024, each of which will be powered by at least 65 percent renewable energy. This is necessary to ensure predictability.
The tone in the coalition has become tougher in the past few weeks. Vice-Chancellor Habeck has even complained of dishonesty that a bill to replace the heating systems with oil and gas from his house had been pushed into the media. CDU leader Friedrich Merz called the ban on new oil and gas heating systems planned for 2024 a mistake in the ARD program „Report from Berlin” on Sunday. He accused the coalition of relying too heavily on bans and paternalism when it came to climate protection. Before the Coalition Committee, LDP politicians have repeatedly urged discipline when spending money – particularly over the now-pending 2024 federal budget.
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