After Transport Minister Wissing defended his threat of driving bans, there was a hail of criticism. Green politicians accuse him of disinformation. The business community also spoke of scaremongering, saying the debate was “poison for retail.”
After a warning about possible driving bans on weekends, criticism of Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing continues. Politicians from the Green Party and associations accuse the FDP politician of exaggeration, disinformation and scaremongering.
The North Rhine-Westphalian transport minister and chairman of the transport ministers’ conference, Oliver Krischer (Greens), told the dpa news agency that, despite all understanding of political escalation, it would be appropriate for Wissing to return to factual politics. “The problem is not the federal climate protection law, but a transport policy that is not aligned with the goals of climate protection and sustainability.”
Krischer: Numerous measures on the table
Krischer said that there were numerous transport policy measures on the table that would contribute to improving mobility as well as achieving climate protection goals. “Instead of threatening people, we would like to talk to Mr. Wissing at the transport ministers’ conference next week about how we can finance the maintenance and expansion of the infrastructure.”
The Transport Ministers’ Conference will meet next Wednesday and Thursday in Münster. An important topic is the future of the Deutschlandticket in local and regional transport.
Wissing: Can only be achieved with “rabid measures”.
However, Wissing obviously sees things differently than Krischer. In the daily topics On Friday evening he defended his threat: The climate goals set out in the Climate Protection Act of 2019 cannot be achieved in the transport sector other than with “rabid measures”.
The Green transport politician Stefan Gelbhaar accused Wissing of disinformation. “Even the court’s obligation to finally present a proper climate protection program includes zero obligation to impose driving bans,” he told “Stern”.
Criticism from associations and organizations
Claudia Kemfert from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) spoke of scaremongering. It is overdue for more climate protection to be implemented in the transport sector, she told the Funke media group. “A transport transition for climate protection is characterized by a variety of components, such as the abolition of the diesel tax privilege and company car privilege, the promotion of public transport and rail transport or a bonus-malus system to promote low-emission vehicles and electromobility.”
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) also accused Wissing of “painting a bogeyman on the wall” in order to prevent effective measures. “In doing so, he shot himself in the foot because with this absurd example he helps us to be able to lead the political discussion about really possible alternatives, which a majority of German citizens have supported for years,” said DUH Federal Managing Director Jürgen Resch to the editorial network Germany (RND). He referred to the high level of support among the population for a speed limit according to an ADAC survey.
The German Trade Association (HDE) warned that a debate about driving bans at the weekend would be poisonous for retailers. “Consumer sentiment is already bad enough. The last thing retail needs now is even more uncertainty for customers,” said managing director Stefan Genth of the Funke media group.
Wissing insists on agreement Climate Protection Act
In a letter to the chairmen of the government factions of the SPD, Greens and FDP, Wissing warned of drastic cuts for drivers, including driving bans on weekends, if the coalition does not agree on a reform of the climate protection law soon.
Otherwise, Wissing would have to present an immediate program by mid-July “that ensures compliance with the annual emissions levels in the transport sector in the coming years up to 2030,” warned the transport minister. From Wissing’s point of view, such a drastic and immediate reduction could only be achieved with driving bans on all weekends.