Habeck wants to make electricity significantly cheaper: “Everyone benefits from this”

Habeck wants to make electricity significantly cheaper: “Everyone benefits from this”

Saturday, November 23rd, 9:00 a.m.: The Green candidate for chancellor and Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck has announced that he wants to make electricity significantly cheaper if he wins the election. “We secured the energy supply in this legislature and worked to make it clean. The next step is that electricity must become cheaper. Everyone benefits from this: companies and consumers,” said Habeck in an interview with the editorial network Germany (RND).

Taxes and duties are too high and need to be reduced, the Green politician continued. As an example, he cited the transmission network fees that are used to finance the expansion of electricity highways. “The cables can be used for generations. It is therefore fair and sensible to finance them over generations. We literally have to give ourselves more credit if we want to achieve the transformation.”

“What a shit show that was”: Juso boss tears up SPD leadership

6.20 p.m.: The SPD’s young generation gave the party leadership a devastating report in the crisis surrounding the candidacy for chancellor. “What kind of shit show was that in the last few weeks?” asked Juso boss Philipp Türmer at the opening of a three-day federal congress of his organization on Friday in Halle.

Türmer took harsh measures against party leaders Saskia Esken and Lars Klingbeil. “Dear Saskia, dear Lars, unfortunately at no point in the last few weeks did I have the impression that you had control over this process or the control of the discourse over the party or even a clear plan,” said Türmer to strong applause from around 300 delegates from the entire federal territory. “Yesterday’s result could have been achieved two weeks ago.”

Türmer criticized the poor moderation of this debate. If discussions were conducted honestly, it would be possible to achieve real unity. But this also means that such discussions are properly moderated, he said to the party leadership in Berlin’s Willy Brandt House.

Türmer said to the Jusos: “None of you joined this party because of Boris or Olaf.” The motive was rather the commitment to the party’s basic values. In view of the SPD’s miserable poll numbers and the failure of the coalition, the Juso leader said: “The starting position was not easy even before these weeks, but now it has become even more difficult.” In the past few weeks he has been looking for motivation for the federal election campaign, the Juso boss admitted.

When Merkel saw Lindner’s expulsion, she spontaneously thought: “Men”

12:44 p.m.: Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) criticizes the reaction of her successor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in connection with the break in the traffic light government and the expulsion of Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP). “When Olaf Scholz expressed himself so bluntly, there was a bit of discomfort in the audience. Some thought: If our Chancellor is so out of control – goddammit – how bad things are for our country,” Merkel told “Spiegel”.

When asked whether Scholz had violated the dignity of his office with his appearance, Merkel replied: “I wouldn’t have said it if I thought it was a prime example of dignity.”

The Chancellor leads the constitutional body, the Federal Government, said Merkel. “His office has a dignity, and that should always guide you.” As Chancellor, you feel the tough conditions. “You feel a lot of emotions, but it’s better to shout at the wall in your office than at the German public.” Her spontaneous thought when she saw the arguments between Scholz and Lindner was: “Men!” When asked what was typical for her seemed male, Merkel said: “For example, taking things personally. This should be avoided as much as possible in politics.”

Scholz critic in the SPD on Pistorius’ withdrawal: “Regret this development”

7:03 a.m.: The SPD member of the Bundestag Joe Weingarten was originally one of the first to campaign for Boris Pistorius as the SPD’s candidate for chancellor. He had expressed the suspicion that his party could experience a “disaster” in the coming election if Scholz ran for the SPD. Now that Pistorius has cleared the way for a candidate for chancellor, Scholz, Weingarten made it clear to the magazine “Spiegel”: “I regret this development.” Now we must “work together and unite to achieve the best possible election result for the SPD.”

Pistorius: “I didn’t give up anything”

Friday, November 22nd, 6:58 a.m.: Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has emphasized that it was his own decision not to run for chancellor. “I didn’t give up anything. You can only do without something that you have or that has been offered to you. I explained that I was not available. “That’s a difference,” said Pistorius in an interview on RTL Nachtjournal. When asked whether pressure had been put on him, he replied:

“If someone then says, as I now do in this case, that I act according to my understanding of state political responsibility, according to my convictions, then the public cannot imagine that there were no threats or rewards behind it. But I can assure you: none of this happened.”

Dobrindt: “Debate in SPD not yet over”

11:38 p.m.: CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt assumes that the SPD will continue to face turbulent times following Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ decision against running for chancellor. “The debate in the SPD is of course not over yet”he said on Maybrit Illner’s ZDF talk show. “It is possible that it is only just beginning.” A decision was made “that is not shared by large parts of the party base,” Dobrindt continued. But: “This is the SPD’s problem, not ours.”

Prime Minister Weil supports Scholz

11:35 p.m.: After Defense Minister Boris Pistorius renounced the SPD’s candidacy for chancellor, Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil has supported the Chancellor. “The Prime Ministers also think it is right that we are going into the next federal election campaign with Olaf Scholz,” said the SPD politician.

Weil praised the Chancellor’s competence and prudence. In times of crisis, it is “fundamental that there is someone at the head of the federal government who acts with experience and caution and who will ensure that we do not have a war and that we use all opportunities for peace,” said Weil.

In the future we will see a different chancellor, one who clearly represents his positions and credibly embodies social democratic values. “We will see that Olaf Scholz is now free from the shackles of the traffic lights […] is liberated,” said Weil.

Pistorius: “I assume that we will lead a coalition”

10:58 p.m.: Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius believes in the SPD’s success in the new elections in February. “I am not thinking about which coalition will not come into being or come into being after February 23rd. I assume that we are leading the coalition, that we are leading a coalition,” Pistorius explained in the RTL night journal. Regarding his own role, he added: “And that I can then continue my work as Defense Minister, which is really a matter close to my heart.”

Scholz is to be nominated as a candidate for chancellor on Monday

10:06 p.m.: Following the resignation of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is to be nominated by the SPD executive board as candidate for chancellor in the new Bundestag elections next Monday. “We will now very quickly create clarity in the committees, Monday in the party executive committee: We want to go into the next election battle with Olaf Scholz,” said party leader Lars Klingbeil in Berlin.

You can read more about the government quake on the next pages.

How might the fallout from the Pistorius withdrawal and‌ the ongoing debate over Scholz’s leadership impact the ability of the SPD⁢ and other governing⁣ coalition partners to effectively address⁤ Germany’s ⁤pressing​ political and economic challenges?

## Thematic Sections & Open-Ended Questions:

This ⁣article covers a tumultuous period in German politics. To ⁢explore it further, let’s divide it into thematic sections and craft open-ended questions for ​each:

**1.⁣ Energy Costs & Green Policies (Habeck Statements)**

* **Questions:**

* How does Habeck’s proposal‍ to​ reduce taxes ‌and duties on⁣ electricity align with broader climate goals?

⁤ * ​To ⁢what extent can spreading the cost of energy infrastructure over generations be viewed as fair or sustainable?

​ * What other factors, beyond cost, might be driving resistance to renewable energy‌ sources?

**2. SPD Candidacy Crisis & Juso⁢ Criticism (Türmer ⁣Statements)**

* ‌**Questions:**

‌ * Türmer criticizes the‍ lack of control and moderation surrounding the SPD’s candidacy selection. What specific changes could the party implement to improve ⁣this process in the future?

* ⁢In what ways might the Jusos’ criticism reflect broader disillusionment among younger ‌voters with the SPD?

* How much​ responsibility should party leadership bear for the SPD’s declining poll numbers?

**3.‌ Merkel’s Perspective on Scholz & Lindner (Merkel Interview)**

* ‌**Questions:**

* Merkel suggests Scholz’s public reaction violated the dignity ​of his office. To what extent should a Chancellor’s personal feelings be ⁣separated from their‌ public ‌persona?

⁣* What⁤ historical examples might ⁢support Merkel’s view that​ taking​ things personally hinders good politics?

⁤* Does Merkel’s perspective ⁤reflect a generational difference in leadership style or deeper ideological divides within German ⁢politics?

**4. Reactions to Pistorius⁤ Withdrawal (Weingarten,⁢ Pistorius, Dobrindt, Weil Statements)**

* **Questions:**

* Pistorius maintains that he ⁤made an ‍independent decision. Do his assurances dispel concerns about ⁢external‍ pressure or is further investigation warranted?

* Dobrindt believes the SPD’s internal debate ​is far from over. What specific challenges might the ⁣party face moving forward,‌ even with Scholz as their candidate?

⁣ ​ * What role might​ Weil’s optimism about Scholz’s leadership ‌play in uniting the SPD and mobilizing their base?

5. **Looking Ahead: The February Election**

* **Questions:**

‌ * In what ways might the recent political ⁤upheaval affect voter turnout and ⁢the outcome of‌ the February election?

‍⁤ * What are the⁢ main priorities for German voters in this election, and how well do the competing parties address these concerns?

* How might⁢ the outcome ⁢of the election‍ reshape the future of ⁢German politics?

These‍ questions aim to promote thought-provoking discussion and encourage diverse perspectives on‍ the​ complex issues discussed in ‍the article.