Cabinet meeting in Meseberg: Just no wrong tongue stroke

The message was clear from the start: After the quarrel between the governing parties, a picture of unity should emanate from the retreat in Meseberg. Chancellor Scholz and his team of ministers presented a series of new plans.

Shortly after sunrise, the last remnants of fog creep over the meadows of Brandenburg. 70 kilometers away from the government district in Berlin is Schloss Meseberg, a picturesque baroque castle – the guest house of the federal government. Those who have come together here for the cabinet meeting and are struggling to find solutions probably also hope that the fog will lift.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck, Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will arrive well ahead of the other ministers in the morning – preliminary talks will be announced later. When the chancellor appeared before the press for the first time that day about two hours later, he seemed cheerful. Scholz sets the tone and makes it clear that he wants to control the interpretation of this meeting.

Hoping for coalition discipline

The message: No matter how bumpy and rough the past few days may have been, reflection is the order of the day here in Meseberg – reflection on what counts. Scholz speaks of a closed conference at which “there is a good atmosphere” and which should ensure “that we as the federal government work together closely and interlocked.” That probably means he expects – or at least hopes – for coalition discipline and joint problem-solving.

For example in terms of the energy crisis. After the seriousness, the chancellor is now in encouragement mode. As far as security of supply is concerned, Germany is “in a much better position now than was foreseeable a few months ago”. The government wants to “further advance this week” with a third relief package. Scholz speaks of “tailor-made”, “as efficient as possible”, “accurate”. He won’t be more specific.

images and symbols

Actually, such a cabinet retreat is not intended for concrete day-to-day business. Normally there are no resolutions, it’s more about the big lines. In times like these, of course, everything is different. That’s why more news is announced than usual.

For example, Secretary of State Annalena Baerbock, flanked by Secretary of the Interior Nancy Faeser and Secretary of Defense Christina Lambrecht, is questioning the visa facilitation deal with Russia as a compromise offer to other EU countries that would rather refuse Russians entry altogether. It had sounded different the day before during the chancellor’s trip to Prague.

Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil announces a skilled labor strategy with Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Family Minister Lisa Paus – and presents red-green-yellow unity. Of course, there are also images and symbols.

Habeck couples gas allocation to conditions

And so, while people are thinking about the energy supply inside, it becomes known outside that the Economics Minister already has new ideas on how the unsuccessful gas levy could be saved. In the afternoon under an almost blue sky, Habeck is the only minister who appears in front of the cameras unaccompanied that day. He must, but may also want to represent his message alone.

The gas surcharge should therefore be linked more closely to conditions – systemic importance, a large proportion of Russian gas in the portfolio – but above all there should be no bonuses, no dividends for companies that want to use them. He wants to “push the free riders off the footboard” again, stresses Habeck. His gaze is serious. “As a minister, you don’t wake up happy at this time,” he says, describing his own tension. But his appearance should also signal: I’ve got it under control, we’re back on course.

Scholz: Conduct confidential discussions internally

That should be in the interests of the chancellor, who occasionally appears with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, who has been invited to Meseberg as a guest. Just as Scholz steps into the garden with him, the sun comes out after dark clouds and rain. When asked about the excess profit tax, the chancellor’s face tightens. The Spaniards introduced one – in energy and in banking.

In the traffic light, the Greens and SPD also want such an instrument, the FDP is clearly against it. “Very confidential” is one of the formulations with which Scholz does not answer whether the German government could learn from Spain and yet tackle such a tax. The motto seems to be just no false strokes of the tongue. The Chancellor is once again very quiet in his remarks at this point.

Does the Chancellor’s appeal work?

Then, later in the day, they laugh out loud. Andrea Nahles, in her capacity as the new head of the employment agency, is also visiting Meseberg. The former SPD chairwoman jokes with Scholz and Lindner while the others stroll around the garden together. Relaxed conversations between trees and flowers are the image that the government sends to the cameras, which are allowed to focus on them from further away for a limited time. Demonstrative harmony and unity, well curated in the garden of Schloss Meseberg.

The discordant tones of the past few days are at least not noticeable from afar. However, it remains to be seen whether the chancellor’s appeal has actually caught on how “tight and interlocked” the traffic lights are now moving into the winter. Tomorrow, Scholz, Habeck and Lindner want to take stock of the exam in a joint press conference, next week the Bundestag will start again – with a general debate on the budget and certainly much less comfortable than in Meseberg.