The traffic light coalition’s dispute over the heating law threatens to escalate: the Greens accuse the FDP of “breach of word” – and no longer feel bound by other decisions.
After the FDP’s blockade of the heating law, the Greens are questioning other agreements made by the traffic light coalition. At the coalition committee at the end of March, they not only agreed on the schedule for the heating replacement, but on an overall package, faction leader Britta Haßelmann made clear on Tuesday. “And that’s why I regret that the planning acceleration law for the entire transport sector, which we believe is important, cannot be launched.” This includes the faster expansion of certain motorways.
The leaders of the SPD, Greens and FDP agreed on March 28 that the law on replacing old oil and gas heating systems should be passed in the Bundestag by the summer break. At the same time, the three-day meeting also agreed, for example, on an amendment to the Climate Protection Act and investments in the railways. All of this is now in question due to the behavior of the FDP, according to the Greens parliamentary group.
FDP expresses fundamental concerns
Because the schedule for the heating law is shaky. The draft by the Ministries of Economics and Building will not be discussed in Parliament this week due to fundamental concerns of the FDP. It should have been the first reading – and thus the start of the work of the Bundestag committees, which should adjust the plans in several points.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck accused the FDP of “breach of word”. The agreement on the coalition committee is clear: “We want this process to be completed before the parliamentary summer break. That will no longer be possible with the postponement,” said the Green politician. “And I note that the FDP is not keeping its word at this point.”
The FDP Presidium then said: “It’s amazing that the Greens just want to continue to push through a bill that falls through with practitioners and experts.” The FDP calls for a complete overhaul. It doesn’t depend on the day, but on “whether Germany gets a good building energy law,” said parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr.
Details disputed
According to the draft adopted by the Federal Cabinet, from 2024 onwards every newly installed heating system should be operated with 65 percent green energy. This should apply to all owners up to the age of 80. Existing oil and gas heating systems can continue to be operated and broken ones can be repaired. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the switch should be socially cushioned – the details are controversial. The law is considered an important component of the plan to make Germany climate-neutral by 2045.
Representatives of the Greens and SPD have not yet written off an enactment before the summer break. “With good will, we can still pass the law by the summer,” said the parliamentary director of the SPD parliamentary group, Katja Mast. There are already preparatory talks this week. The summer break begins on July 7th. Until then, there are three more session weeks.
All three traffic light groups have announced that they want to change the law. “The SPD parliamentary group only agrees to the law if heating remains affordable,” emphasized Mast. For the Social Democrats and the Greens, support based on social criteria is particularly important. In addition, the SPD is against the rigid age limit of 80 years and wants to protect tenants more.
Scholz urges speed
The FDP criticized what they felt was too strong a focus on the heat pump as a more climate-friendly alternative to oil and gas heating. Other technologies should also be allowed. In fact, the draft also mentions district heating, solar thermal and hybrid heating systems consisting of heat pumps plus gas or biomass heating.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had recently called for speed. He expects “that the Bundestag will now discuss the bill with the necessary thoroughness, but also speed,” said his spokesman on Monday. In fact, despite the FDP blockade, the law will be an issue in the Bundestag on Wednesday: the Union faction has requested a current hour.
Source: Stern
