For weeks, the traffic light parties have been arguing bitterly about the reform of the building energy law. Things now seem to be moving. The SPD general secretary believes in an early agreement.
SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert has shown himself confident that the heating law, which is controversial in the coalition, can be passed before the summer break. He now thinks that is “absolutely realistic,” said Kühnert on Thursday evening on the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner”. “And I think the public has also noticed that many statements and statements on the subject have changed significantly in tone and quality.”
Deadline July 7th
He firmly assumes that the law will be on the agenda for the first reading in the week of the Bundestag session in two weeks. “That’s the prerequisite for us to get through the law before the summer break – that’s the aim.” The summer break begins after July 7th.
After bitter disputes within the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens and FDP, there seemed to be increasing movement this week in search of compromises. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) was also more confident on Wednesday that the reform of the building energy law – the so-called heating law – can be passed before the summer break.
The FDP wants fundamental improvements to a draft law passed by the cabinet. This stipulates that from the beginning of 2024 every newly installed heating system should be operated with at least 65 percent green energy. The switch is to be socially cushioned by state funding, and there should also be transitional periods and hardship regulations.
The role of the chancellor
Kühnert again rejected criticism of the leadership style of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the question. “If the law comes at the end, and that’s what it looks like, then the strategy was the right one, because it didn’t prevent the desired path and success.”
The SPD general secretary added that one could have contributed to the debate differently – “louder, more vulgar” – than Scholz did. But he is the one “who works more in the background to find a solution” and ensures that the goals of the legally valid climate protection law progress.
Source: Stern
