Of
Michael Bauchmüller and Henrike Rossbach
When Christian Lindner heads for the government bench in the Bundestag shortly after half past eleven on Thursday, Robert Habeck is already there, typing around on his mobile phone. The seating arrangement is such that the finance minister’s seat is right next to that of the vice chancellor and economics minister. Lindner greets Habeck with a handshake, then sits down next to him. After that, two men can be seen having a great time for two minutes. The liberal with a tie, the green one without, both grinning like schoolboys, Lindner gesticulates, Habeck has to laugh.