Live blog
As of: December 8th, 2021 8:57 a.m.
SPD parliamentary group leader Mützenich has assured future chancellor Scholz that the parliamentary group will support him. The ECB President Lagarde expects “hard work” from the new government to strengthen the EU. All developments in the live blog.
8:57 am
Steffen Hebestreit follows Steffen Seibert as government spokesman
The outgoing government spokesman Steffen Seibert gives the Twitter account of the government spokesman with more than a million followers to his “designated successor Steffen Hebestreit”. The previous tweets would be archived under “@RegSsprecherStS”, he announced on Wednesday via the short message service Twitter.
The former journalist Hebestreit worked until the end as a spokesman for Olaf Scholz. Before that, he was a member of the Federal Press Conference, the association of journalists in the capital, for seven years and four months. From 2011 to 2014 he was a member of the association’s board of directors.
8:52 am
Wissing wants to pick up speed with electromobility
The designated Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing wants to promote electromobility in Germany. “Germany also lives from a vehicle industry that needs a chance even in the phase of climate neutrality,” says the FDP politician in the ARD. “We also have to secure market shares worldwide in the field of electromobility.” But one thing is clear: “In future, it must be climate-neutral and as quickly as possible.”
Volker Wissing, FDP, designated Minister of Transport, on the new government
Morning magazine, December 8th, 2021
8:48 a.m.
Mützenich assures Scholz of support for the SPD parliamentary group
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich has promised Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz the support of the largest parliamentary group. It is a relationship between equals because laws are discussed and passed in parliament, he says in the ARD. The future ministers would also know that.
Rolf Mützenich, leader of the SPD parliamentary group, on the election of the new Federal Chancellor
Morning magazine, December 8th, 2021
8:48 a.m.
Lagarde expects “hard work” to strengthen the EU
The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, expects the future Chancellor Olaf Scholz to work to strengthen the EU. “I am sure that the new government under his leadership will continue to work hard to advance European integration,” Lagarde told the Handelsblatt. She is “certain” that Scholz will work as “calmly, thoroughly and focused” as the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.
8:48 a.m.
Haßelmann sees great unity in the Green Group
The new Greens co-parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann emphasizes the unity of her group at the start of the traffic light government. “We have a clear mandate to implement the projects from the coalition agreement,” says Haßelmann in the ARD. You have no concern that the parliamentary group will be a snatching body for government projects. Haßelmann was elected to the top of the parliamentary group with a large majority on Tuesday, together with Katharina Dröge.
8:48 a.m.
Rapid relief for companies required
Before the start of the traffic light coalition, the President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), Peter Adrian, called on the new federal government to quickly relieve the burden on companies. “As a first step, the new government should get the planned special write-offs and loss offsets on the way quickly,” Adrian told the newspaper of the Funke media group. In addition, it should quickly abolish the EEG surcharge. “These decisions relieve many companies and can therefore be important investment impulses,” Adrian told the newspapers. Many companies would find themselves in a difficult situation due to the corona restrictions, high energy and raw material prices and a lack of skilled workers.