Green parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann on politics in times of crisis: “Strong shoulders have to carry more than weak ones” – politics

Ms Hasselmann, the government avoided the major conflict issues at the last coalition committee, now it’s vacation time. Has the traffic light expired?

This and the last week of the session show quite clearly that we are now implementing a large number of projects that we have planned in the coalition. What we have achieved since December 8th – the day Olaf Scholz was elected chancellor – is enormous: the minimum wage, the abolition of paragraph 219a, a large energy and climate package. That makes it clear: We deliver.

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The friction at the traffic lights is nevertheless obvious. The FDP has been nervous since the election debacle in North Rhine-Westphalia. Most recently, she publicly expressed her dissent with the Greens about the end of the internal combustion engine. How tiring is that?

Of course, we don’t have every answer ready right away, neither in our election program nor in the coalition agreement – especially at this time when three crises are overlapping with Corona, climate and Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.

And that’s why there are sometimes debates about the right solution. A coalition is always accompanied by negotiation processes. But what matters is that we come to an agreement in the end.

At the moment, one of the biggest challenges for the traffic light is to agree on answers to inflation in Germany. Is further relief needed?

We have agreed on two relief packages. Many of the measures have only just come into force and are gradually becoming noticeable to people: family bonus, immediate child supplement, flat-rate energy price, one-off supplement to basic security.

But of course we know that the situation in the country can deteriorate further if food prices or heating costs continue to rise. Then we have to decide as a traffic light: How can we further relieve the people who have particularly little? We will certainly have to increase basic security. No one can ignore the fact that, given the increase in the cost of living, an increase in standard rates is necessary.

Does it also need a continuation of the 9-euro ticket, as some are already demanding?

The use of the 9-euro ticket shows what a model for success it is. Affordable and simple offers in local public transport, where people don’t have to think about changing the tariff zone or the federal state – they will be used!

We will certainly not be able to continue this 1:1, because the expansion of public transport is also part of it. But we are thinking about what a permanent successor to the 9-euro ticket could look like: What would be an attractive offer that people would actually take advantage of? Here the federal and state governments are called upon to develop ideas together.

The big question is where all that money is going to come from. Finance Minister Christian Lindner absolutely wants to stick to the debt brake – despite the crisis situation. Are projects that are close to the heart of the Greens, such as basic child security, in danger?

The debt brake is in the Basic Law. We have agreed that we will comply with them. But so far we have always found ways to make the necessary investments as a traffic light.

We have provided many billions for climate protection with an energy and climate fund and passed the amendment to the Basic Law for the special fund for the Bundeswehr.

Given the crisis situation, we will continue to find ways and opportunities to act. We are in an emergency situation. And yet basic child security will come, it is important for social cohesion.

In the end, however, savings will have to be made somewhere. A lot of people fear it could be in the welfare system. This week there was outrage because it was said that the traffic light wanted to save on the social labor market for the long-term unemployed.

The principle applies: strong shoulders have to carry more than weak shoulders. The social labor market is important, especially in times of crisis. It gives hope and perspective to people who have been unemployed for a long time.

And employers and public institutions that hire long-term unemployed people receive wage subsidies from the state for the first few years. We want to continue this as a traffic light. When we discuss the budget for 2023 in Parliament, that must be secured.

At the moment, many citizens are still accepting the higher prices for food and energy – albeit with groans. If the situation worsens in winter, what social upheavals do you fear?

Of course people are worried. They fear what will happen to them with the utility bills and advance payments. And they feel the changes every day at the supermarket checkout.

I therefore see it as our political responsibility to send a clear signal that we will not let people down and that we see them with their worries and needs.

What should this signal look like?

Whether low earners, pensioners with little money or people with basic security – none of them should have to worry that their heat or electricity will be turned off in winter because they can no longer pay for it. And we have to communicate clearly, transparently and seriously that we are working on a solution to this.

Poverty researcher Christoph Butterwegge fears that the erosion of the middle class and their fears of decline could lead to a strengthening of right-wing extremist parties. A danger that you also see?

It’s no use drawing a horror scenario. The democratic forces are now required. We have to make it clear: we see how serious the situation is and we are doing something about it. That’s what we’re doing with the climate crisis.

Heat, drought, forest fires – the drama can be felt directly again this summer.

But we are taking action, we have brought the largest energy and climate package through the Bundestag. The same will apply to the relief measures in the crisis and against inflation. Incidentally, this also includes the minimum wage of 12 euros, which will apply from October 1st. This is an important signal of fair remuneration.

In view of the current situation, the Left Party is already calling for an end to the energy sanctions against Russia. If prices keep rising, could such views spread and solidarity with Ukraine dwindle?

I found the demands from the ranks of the Left faction outrageous given the brutality of this war. Of course, we always have to present and explain our actions and our decisions well. Financial and humanitarian aid, arms deliveries combined with the six packages of sanctions are important and necessary to support Ukraine.

When we consider that this terrible war is raging in the middle of Europe, 1200 kilometers from Berlin, then we see: this could be our life. Until February 24, people in Ukraine lived freely and independently, just like us, whether in Berlin or Bielefeld. What is happening there now endangers our peace and security order. I experience a lot of solidarity in the population.

Let’s take another look at your party. They are currently having to throw many of their principles overboard. As a former peace party, you deliver heavy weapons, as a climate protection party, you let coal-fired power plants run longer. What does that do to your self-image?

There is a lot of support for these decisions, especially in the parliamentary group, but also in the party and at the grassroots level. We organize many dialogue formats to talk about what the current crisis overlay demands of us.

We seek dialogue with citizens. Of course we sometimes struggle with these decisions too: both in terms of coal and arms deliveries. They are difficult trade-offs.

But the course is widely supported, in the party as well as in the population. And I am glad that we are making these decisions together with people like Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck.

Parts of the climate movement are still disappointed by the Greens.

And other parts support the course. I know that the many associations, initiatives and NGOs are exerting extra-parliamentary pressure for more speed in climate protection. But we are the ones who decide things in Parliament and have to find majorities for them. That’s why I can deal with this situation very well.

It would be strange if the youth movement or environmental organizations said about the climate: “Everything they’re doing is great, we don’t need it at all.” No, movements are a driver for concerns and those who work on implementation in Parliament work.

Germany is buying fracking gas from the USA, building liquid gas terminals, generating more coal again and making liquid gas deals with Qatar. Even if the decisions can be well justified: As a Green, aren’t you worried about a “fossil backlash”, as the activist Luisa Neubauer puts it?

The leitmotif “We only borrowed the earth from our children” is just as relevant as it was when the Greens were founded. But our goal is also to end dependence on Russia.

In order to meet both requirements, we have to make difficult compromises. But we are making progress in many areas: ten energy and climate laws in two weeks of meetings.

There have not been so many elementary, groundbreaking decisions in the area of ​​climate and energy in the last 16 years. There is certainly always a different way of looking at the question of whether the glass is half full or half empty. In these times of crisis, we are doing what is possible and will not let up in this commitment.

At the moment you are also relying heavily on the help of the population. Economics Minister Robert Habeck calls on citizens to save energy and recommends taking shorter showers. Do you fear that you will quickly get the old label of the “ban party” again?

no Everyone is responsible for themselves and their behavior. But we have to adapt to the current situation. In the current difficult supply situation, three elements are required:

Expansion of renewable energies, increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and saving energy. We are dependent on the help of the citizens, but we also have to talk to companies and the economy about their contribution.

The corona crisis has shown how it can work, that companies can do big things. In the home office area, for example, a lot has been made possible. Even now, the willingness is great, for example when it comes to saving energy. Only a few feel restricted.

Is there a need for even stricter guidelines from the federal government, where energy should also be saved in the public sector – for example in the indoor swimming pools?

With the best will in the world, we should not start with the swimming pools. For me, they are part of the welfare of the public. I don’t want to touch the question of a lively community, social and cultural participation for children and young people.

In other places you can set further incentives to save energy. But touching the community in such a time of crisis – I think that sends the wrong signal.