The FDP sent Robert Habeck 101 questions about the heating law. Or not? The chronicle of a farce.
One of Disney’s all-time classics is 101 Dalmatians. The FDP’s 101 questions are becoming an all-time classic in political communication. The Liberals wanted to send Robert Habeck a whole list of open questions about the Building Energy Act. Or not? Chronicle of a Farce.
On May 12, the “Bild” newspaper reported on new anger among the liberals about Habeck’s heating law. The FDP parliamentary group only wants to agree to deliberations on the law if Habeck has previously answered a catalog of 101 questions.
“A tough ultimatum!” judged “Bild”.
According to this, the questions were worked out by party deputy Wolfgang Kubicki and the former “euro rebel” Frank Schäffler, among others. The FDP parliamentary group has already approved it. The list of questions is to be officially submitted to Robert Habeck shortly.
The problem with the beautiful story: It’s not true. The parliamentary group leadership never intended to send 101 questions to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. At least that’s what anyone who asks the Liberals hears.
The deliberation of the law is delayed
Unfortunately, FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai does not seem to have received the memo. Almost a week later he also spoke to the “Bild” newspaper. The FDP faction still has around 100 questions for Robert Habeck, says Djir-Sarai. “As long as these are not answered, the deliberations on the law cannot even begin.”
The session week begins a few days later. Like every Tuesday morning, the parliamentary directors of the SPD, Greens and FDP meet to talk about the program of the week. Your breakfast takes a little longer than usual. Actually, the building energy law should come into the Bundestag this week. But the FDP still considers the draft not good enough. The first reading is postponed.
Is that because Robert Habeck hasn’t answered the 101 questions yet?
Eh, no. The leadership of the Liberals has also said that they never intended and still do not intend to send a list of 101 questions to Robert Habeck. But of course there are still a number of questions.
Is it all just a PR number for the FDP?
This coincides with the information that a “Zeit” journalist received from the Liberals on request. He wanted to know whether the 101 questions had already been sent to the Economics Ministry. A spokeswoman replied: “The FDP parliamentary group has already asked the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology a number of questions and will continue to ask further technical questions, as is the case with other legislative processes.”
At least now the impression is created that the liberals are treating themselves to a PR stunt. Ask an unbelievably high number of questions that they never asked. And demand an answer.
“By the way, I haven’t seen the 100 questions (they’ve been talking about them for 8 days). Anyone?” tweeted Green Party Vice President Julia Verlinden.
FDP top politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also seems to have missed the There are no 101 questions from her faction leadership. On Tuesday evening, the chairperson of the defense committee is included in the “Daily Topics”. For once, it’s not about fighter jets or tanks for Ukraine, but about the coalition dispute and the heating. Strack-Zimmermann says the law can “under no circumstances” come before the summer break, because the FDP first wants answers to the “over 100 questions”.
Don’t believe your own propaganda.
There is another list of questions
On Wednesday morning, journalists are now circulating an FDP catalog of questions via Twitter. It is actually the 101 questions that Frank Schäffler and others collected a few weeks ago. Questions like, number 70: “How many apartment buildings use the top floor or the roof truss as a tenant’s basement, boiler room or laundry drying room?” Or, number 66: “How much space does an average heat pump take up both inside and outside a building?”
There are many questions to which our own energy experts could have answered long ago.
For all those who have lost the yellow thread in the meantime, here is a summary: 101 questions are circulating that, according to two leading FDP politicians, Habeck has not yet answered, but which the Green Minister has never seen, what about it lies that the FDP parliamentary group never intended to send them to him.
You don’t have to be a green heat pump ultra to find that somewhat absurd.
And now? There is another list in the FDP parliamentary group. It is currently about half as long and was compiled by the rapporteurs responsible for the Building Energy Act. There are also some of the 101 questions on it. Many others didn’t make it through internal quality control. And yes, Habeck and his house have actually already answered a few. A spokeswoman referred to the talks with the responsible reporters in the Bundestag on Wednesday afternoon: “We are available to answer any questions.” She did not name a question limit.
Incidentally, the rapporteur talks took place at the beginning of the month. Questions from all coalition factions were answered, says a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economic Affairs star: “It happened to be exactly 102.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
