After an ultimatum from the SPD on the controversial heating law, the liberals are opposed. A decision before the summer break is unrealistic, extensive changes are necessary. The template is “inefficient for the climate”.
In the dispute within the coalition over the planned heating law, the FDP has distanced itself further from the SPD and the Greens. There are “incredibly many mistakes” in the draft, said FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai after the party committee meetings in Berlin, and demanded: “Here we need a new law in principle.”
It is now the task of the Bundestag to make changes, according to Djir-Sarai. For the FDP, the following applies: “We will not let ourselves be put under pressure at this point.” The template is “inefficient for the climate” and unsettles and overwhelms people economically and financially.
The FDP continues to call for extensive changes in the draft and considers adoption in the German Bundestag before the summer break to be unrealistic. The Greens in particular had intended this. The Council of Elders, which will meet on Tuesday, will decide exactly when Parliament will deal with it.
“We are in a coalition”
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich had previously expressed his anger at the slowing behavior of coalition partner FDP. “I regret that and it annoys me too,” said Mützenich im ARD morning magazine. This not only entails hours of discussion between the specialist deputies, “but it also annoys the parliamentary group leaders”.
Mützenich issued an ultimatum: the Liberals had 24 hours to agree to the first reading of the law, said the SPD politician and went on to demand: “The FDP must be able to come to reliable deliberations in the German Bundestag. You can do that don’t do it outside of parliament. We’re in a coalition.”
Draft should go to plenary this week
According to the draft law already passed by the Federal Cabinet, from 2024 every newly installed heating system should be operated with 65 percent green energy. This should apply to all owners up to the age of 80. Existing oil and gas heating systems can continue to be operated, and broken ones can be repaired. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the switch should be cushioned socially by funding – but the details are controversial.
At least there seems to be a consensus in the coalition that there must be changes to the draft law before it can be passed in Parliament. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil mentioned, for example, the protection of tenants, the age limit of 80, social graduations and the expansion of municipal heating networks. You can also talk about the transition periods, said Klingbeil on the show Report from Berlin.
The coalition originally wanted to introduce the draft law on plans to replace old oil and gas heating systems in the Bundestag this week.