Economics Minister Habeck tries to promote innovation and climate protection during his summer tour in Saxony. Many companies are very skeptical, and the dispute over the heating law is reverberating.
Only the eyes of Economics Minister Robert Habeck are still sticking out of the light blue overalls as he stands in the so-called clean room at chip manufacturer Infineon. Next to him, similarly veiled, is Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The two Green Ministers joke about their outfits and watch the production of semiconductors in fascination. No particle is allowed to disturb the production, which is why the two are covered with sterile material except for the eyes.
The economics minister’s summer trip to Saxony starts with a feel-good date. Good pictures can be produced at Infineon: Habeck and Baerbock for the first time together as ministers on a company visit. It’s about a technology of the future, semiconductors, which are also produced here in East Germany, in “Silicon Saxony”. The Economics Minister is bringing money with him: Infineon is to receive one billion euros in funding for the expansion of its semiconductor plant.
Money is not enough for everyone
Habeck has been touring Germany since the beginning of the week – from West to East. While he was welcomed with open arms at the appointments in West Germany, the mood in the East is more tense. When Habeck talks to entrepreneurs, the press has to stay outside.
In the run-up, one or the other company boss expresses his displeasure at how things are going for the steel industry, for example, how the heat transition is supposed to work with the high energy prices, or how the minister now wants to help them, the small companies, financially. It cannot be that there is only support for the “big players”, such as the chip industry.
But Habeck is clear that he cannot give gifts of money everywhere on a large scale. The dispute over the budget for the coming year is still in his bones, and the month-long dispute over the building energy law has also left its mark.
“Why don’t you say botch in politics?”
The heating law is then also a topic during his visit to a roofing company in Ottendorf-Okrilla. Company boss Jörg Dittrich reports that the concern and uncertainty was great. But then appeased – now much is clearer. The 83-year-old Claus Dittrich, his father and former boss of the family business, finds clearer words. He is annoyed that there is always talk of “technical errors” in politics. In the craft, however, one speaks of botch. “Why don’t you say botch in politics?”
The senior also assures Habeck that he is trying. Accordingly relaxed, Habeck tries to react. Shortly thereafter, while trying to trim a roof tile professionally, he jokes that if that fails now, it’s again called a botch.
The fact that the Federal Constitutional Court stopped the legislative process shortly before the parliamentary summer recess after a complaint by CDU MP Thomas Heilmann apparently leaves the minister cold. Habeck gives the impression that the main thing is that the law is passed, the main thing is that the dispute in the coalition is not continued and hopefully other topics will soon be discussed.
Perplexity about the polls of the AfD
Another topic that comes up again and again during the trip, which is often preferred to remain silent on the spot: the high poll numbers of the AfD in the region. It is also clear to many entrepreneurs that the good economic development in many places in recent years would be jeopardized by an electoral success for the AfD. This would make recruiting skilled workers from Germany and abroad more difficult than ever.
Habeck drives the topic, he continues to seek dialogue, even with those who will certainly not vote for the Greens. But the helplessness on the subject on the trip is noticeable.