A statement by Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) in the ARD program “Maischberger” on Tuesday evening caused sharp criticism in the ranks of the opposition.
When asked if he was expecting a wave of bankruptcies at the end of this winter, Habeck replied: “No, I’m not doing that. I can imagine that certain sectors will simply stop producing for the time being.” Habeck gave flower shops, health food shops and bakeries as an example because these shops “depend on people spending money”. Such companies would then have real problems because there would be a reluctance to buy. “Then they are not automatically insolvent, but they may stop selling,” said Habeck.
“Unworldly, aloof, aimless. Economics Minister Habeck has no idea about economics, he stands for economics,” said CSU General Secretary Martin Huber on Wednesday. Union parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul (CDU) teased on Twitter: “It’s a blessing that we have such a highly competent Economics Minister in this difficult situation.”
CSU politician Huber also commented on Habeck’s statement on Twitter: “And if too little electricity is produced in winter because the nuclear power plants need 1 week to start up, that’s not a blackout but the light just stops shining a bit, or what? Habeck going into intellectual bankruptcy.”
Habeck emphasized that support programs for certain companies are being worked on. “In the case of Corona, politicians decided to take on all the costs. That was enormously expensive, and we have not yet made this political decision,” he said. According to him, this support must be designed in such a way that the financial possibilities are used in a targeted manner and reach those affected.
In the general debate in the Bundestag, the opposition is also working on Federal Minister of Economics Habeck on Wednesday (read the debate here). “In economic policy, this government lacks any ability to think strategically,” says CDU leader Merz. “If the green party base is more important to him (Habeck, editor’s note) than the security of supply in our country, then you as Federal Chancellor should pull the plug on the Minister of Economics,” says Alexander Dobrindt, head of the CSU state group, addressing Scholz. “Mr. Habeck, you know as much about economics as a blind man does about color,” says AfD co-group leader Tino Chrupalla.