“How mendacious are we?” – Habeck counters criticism of the trip to Qatar with a keynote speech
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Robert Habeck defended his trip to Qatar with Markus Lanz. Germany always believes that it is on the side of the good guys, but that is not the case. The appearance also showed how the Green politician differs from Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel.
VVice-Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) maintains a different political style than Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) or his predecessor Angela Merkel (CDU). An appearance at Markus Lanz on Thursday evening once again made that clear: When Habeck defended his trip to Qatar, he openly addressed fundamental questions of politics, law and morality – and caused irritated faces in the panel discussion.
Lanz, Habeck and the other guests – journalist Michael Bröcker, economist Karen Pittel and political scientist Gwendolyn Sasse – had already spent around an hour talking about the war in Ukraine, dealing with Vladimir Putin and the arguments for or against an import embargo on gas and oil spoken. Habeck said the aim of his visit to Doha was to make Germany less dependent on Russian gas.
“If we want to become independent of Russian gas and the world market does not provide unlimited LNG quantities that Qatar is able to produce, then you have to go there,” said Habeck. Of course, he was aware that Qatar was having workers from Pakistan and Bangladesh toil in miserable conditions when building new football stadiums and high-rise buildings. This topic had been addressed, emphasized the Green politician.
Moderator Lanz exhaled heavily. He expected Habeck to speak about Qatar’s support for the Taliban and other terrorist organizations. “We’re talking about people who get involved on the dark side of power,” said Lanz.
The trip had been well thought out and cleverly prepared, Habeck replied. There are deficits in human rights and democracy throughout the Arab region, he said. And started his speech about politics, justice and morality.
Germany’s moral conscience – only selectively?
“What do our cars actually use? Could it be that there is oil from Saudi Arabia in there? And where was the Markus Lanz show, how deceitful we are that we are upset about Putin, but gondola around with Saudi oil?” Habeck asked in his two-minute statement towards the end of the show.
The Vice-Chancellor gave further examples in which the consumption of the Germans does not meet their demands for environmentally friendly production or fair wages for the workers: mobile phones, computers or meat from factory farming. It will not be spoken about. Only occasionally – for example during Habeck’s trip to Qatar – did Germany discover its moral conscience.
“The belief is that in Germany we always do everything right and only if we travel to Qatar and buy gas in exceptional situations do we do business with the devil, with Beelzebub,” said the Vice Chancellor. And adds: “When we live our everyday lives, when we fill up our cars, when we smear our mince on the Mett roll, are we always on the side of the good guys?” said Habeck. “Only people who have never been in the pigsty can believe that. It’s not like that.”
“Insane Express Course in Realpolitik”
At this point, the other guests – Habeck was connected from Berlin – looked amazed at the TV in the studio. “I would like to look at some of the faces of Greens members in front of the television as they listen to Mr. Habeck, who has taken an insane express course in Realpolitik,” said journalist Bröcker appreciatively.
But it is also clear: With the comparisons, Habeck gave himself an absolution for his trip to Qatar. “Absolutely correct,” said moderator Markus Lanz in agreement at several points.
And then Habeck said a sentence at the end that illustrates how his political style differs from that of Chancellor Scholz and former Chancellor Merkel. What was said was not a passionate plea for Qatar. “It’s the admission that politics sometimes, actually mostly, means taking the relatively better step,” said Habeck. A sentence that Merkel and Scholz, with their policy of the lack of alternatives, have never or never said before.
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