In order to resolve the dispute over the heating law, Economics Minister Habeck is now inviting the coalition partners to his ministry for clarifying talks. Meanwhile, the SPD is demanding a compromise proposal – which the FDP must make.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck wants to meet representatives of the three traffic light groups SPD, Greens and FDP to exchange views on the planned heating law. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), he will invite you to do so in a timely manner. The background is a questionnaire announced by the FDP leadership with around 100 questions about the law. According to the ministry, however, this has not yet been received.
“What was submitted to the BMWK this morning are 77 questions from the FDP reporters,” the ministry said. “These questions will be processed and of course answered.” The catalog, which is available to the dpa news agency, includes questions about the savings potential of renovations without replacing the heating system or the planned role of biomethane.
SPD demands from FDP compromise proposals
Due to fundamental concerns, the FDP had prevented the draft law that had already been passed by the cabinet from being dealt with in the Bundestag this week. It stipulates that from next year every newly installed heating system must be operated with at least 65 percent green energy. Alternatively, you can also switch to climate-neutral heat from a heating network. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the switch should be socially cushioned – the details are, however, controversial.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil called on the governing parties to quickly resolve the deadlocked heating dispute. “The public dispute has unsettled the population in a way that I have experienced with a few draft laws before,” he told the “Spiegel”. “We should all pull together and come to a conclusion quickly.” The FDP must provide answers as to what a compromise could look like, emphasized Klingbeil.
“The law is done when it’s good”
FDP leader and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner said at an event in Berlin that his party did not want to prevent the heating law. “Doing nothing is not an option,” said Lindner. That is irresponsible because the climate goals have to be achieved. At the same time, however, one cannot demand the impossible from the citizens.
The draft law still has to be worked on thoroughly, said Lindner. “The law is ready when it’s good. Then it can be passed.” It is now about solutions, not about party politics. Every building is different, which is why individual solutions are needed.
Union calls for the law to be withdrawn
Union faction leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) called on the coalition to withdraw the building energy law. The federal government must “fundamentally revise its draft and then bring it back to the Bundestag,” he told the broadcasters RTL and ntv. He also referred to other contentious issues in the coalition, such as the conflict over the 2024 budget. “If the coalition factions continue to behave as they are now, then this government will be over.”
Group manager Thorsten Frei (CDU) told the dpa news agency: “Intrigues, mutual accusations and a never-ending argument – what the federal government is currently doing is reminiscent of the TV soap ‘Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten’. But with a focus on bad times .”