Chancellor in the ntv interview
Scholz sees concerns about heating plans largely dispelled
5/21/2023 5:14 am
A heated argument about the traffic light coalition’s heating plans has been raging for weeks. In an interview with ntv and RTL, Chancellor Scholz says that in his opinion the critics are not up to date. Their concerns have been largely dispelled in the current version of the draft law.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees the points of criticism of the Building Energy Act, which has been the subject of heated debate for weeks, largely dispelled. “Most of the concerns that are currently being discussed,” explained the Chancellor in an interview with NTV and RTL, “are no longer justified with regard to the draft law that currently exists, but relate to a rough draft that is not intended to be published at all”. . The Bundestag is currently only looking “whether the law that has reached it can still be specified at one point or another”.
Above all, the far-reaching restrictions on oil and gas heating planned in the draft law have drawn fierce criticism in recent weeks, and not only from the opposition. Concerns about the project, which is mainly being pushed by the Greens, were also expressed within the traffic light coalition. Scholz described the differences of opinion within the coalition and the changes to the law as “completely normal parliamentary procedures”. He assumes that the “basic structure” of the law will no longer be changed. Contrary to what critics claim, the project is designed in such a way “that nobody is overwhelmed economically and socially. A lot of precautions have been taken for this,” Scholz continued.
All in all, the goal of operating in a climate-neutral manner by the middle of the century can only be achieved “with great effort”, said the Chancellor. The economy has already embarked on this path with investments in the billions. The necessary modernization also affects “areas of life that affect us all directly,” explained Scholz. “It’s then about proceeding cautiously and wisely, but not losing sight of the goal. That’s exactly what we intend to do.”