Economy Minister
Habeck open to stricter transparency rules
Robert Habeck is Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection. photo
© Britta Pedersen/dpa
For the second time in two weeks, Economics Minister Habeck has to answer questions in Bundestag committees about his personnel policy. The mood: irritated.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has shown himself open to tightening the transparency rules for the federal government. His own ministry is working along the applicable guidelines, said the Green politician at a joint meeting of the Bundestag committees for business, climate protection and energy. Currently, these rules state that official actions must not be guided by private interests. It is not forbidden to get involved as a civil servant in funds or companies.
However, one must be aware that political decisions always influence economic prospects, said Habeck. “Let’s talk about tightening the rules – but then for everyone.” In contrast to the first survey two weeks ago, the hearing took place in public. It was almost exclusively about the role of Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Udo Philipp (Greens). He helped appoint a fund founder with whom he has a business relationship to a ministry advisory board.
Question rules cause trouble
The question rules that had been decided in both committees caused anger. “By doing so, you curtail parliamentary rights,” the CDU MP Andreas Jung accused the representatives of the traffic light groups SPD, Greens and FDP. The chairman of the Economic Committee, Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU), had previously stated that each parliamentary group should only have one minute to ask questions in each round. In addition, questions should be collected and then answered together, said the chairman of the energy committee, Klaus Ernst (left). With four laps there was a total of 75 percent less time than two weeks ago, Jung complained.
Traffic light representatives made a different calculation: Unlike the previous time, the time limit of four minutes per round of questions only applied to the questions themselves, so answers could have been longer, said Reinhard Houben from the FDP. The mood during the hearing was tense. The deputy chairwoman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Julia Klöckner, repeatedly accused Habeck and Philipp of not having answered questions.
The opposition agrees
The conclusion was different. He wonders “whether this coalition is interested in transparency and clarification at all,” said Leif-Erik Holm from the AfD. “For compliance reasons, it is not possible for a state secretary to send someone to an advisory board in the Ministry of Economics, who can of course use this as a door opener.” The left Pascal Meiser criticized: “The core issue is still whether State Secretary Philipp benefited directly or indirectly from the decisions of the Ministry of Economic Affairs or not.” The FDP was satisfied: “From our point of view, he gave satisfactory answers to all questions,” said Houben about Philipp.
Habeck said he thinks it’s right if politics “doesn’t just swim in its own juice”. Knowledge of companies, medium-sized companies and the start-up scene could help. It is a fundamental question whether people who have worked in business should also be able to contribute their knowledge to politics. “I would say yes,” said Habeck. Philipp himself sees no problem in his investments and his investments in funds. “I don’t see where a company in which I have a direct interest should benefit from my actions.” It is normal for people to have funds. He is convinced that this is also the case for employees in other ministries.
Habeck defends appointment from Sebastian Böhmer
Habeck defended the appointment of fund founder Sebastian Böhmer to the “Young Digital Economy” advisory board. “We have not found this expertise anywhere else.” Boehmer has rare experience of starting a venture capital fund while still a student. Philipp asserted: “I’m not friends with Mr. Böhmer.”