Mr. Chancellor, the extensive package of measures that your coalition has decided to get Germany through the winter has been criticized from many quarters on many points. After a week-long start-up, they spent 22 hours wrestling with their coalition partners about the resolutions. Did you expect more approval?
I perceive broad support for our resolutions. Of course, some people are also skeptical. That’s part of democracy. We have adopted a carefully designed and well-targeted program that addresses all of the challenges that the citizens and businesses of this country are now facing.
Green leader Nouripour spoke of “grueling negotiations”. What was so exhausting? What were the main points of contention?
Sitting together for a long time can sometimes be exhausting. But we all put a lot of effort into it, and the effort paid off.
The tone of conversation in the coalition had become quite rough in the run-up, although you had mutually promised something different. How is that supposed to be when the difficult time you warn about is here?
The government works closely and trustingly together, and a lot of community has also developed in the coalition – not least because of this weekend.
Let’s move on to the external challenges: Russia is now supplying almost no gas to Germany. Are we prepared for this?
The situation that was bothering me right after I took office in December seems to be happening now. At that time I asked what plans there were in case Russia does not fulfill its energy supplies. The answer then: There are no plans. Since then, the government has made intensive preparations for such a case. With a gas storage law, with the planning of liquid gas terminals, with close monitoring of the gas situation and with plans to replace the use of gas with other energy sources. Now the save is more than 85 percent, much higher than in previous years. And we are reconnecting coal-fired power plants to save gas. In short, we are prepared and will probably be able to get through this winter.
What other lessons does your government draw from the lesson that Vladimir Putin taught to gullible German politicians and businesspeople?
Such a dependency on one supplier must not exist again. We must be able to switch to other suppliers at any time, in terms of coal, gas and oil, but also other important raw materials.
Do we really not need nuclear power anymore?
In principle, the phase-out of nuclear energy remains the same. For this winter, however, we are making it possible for the two nuclear power plants in southern Germany, Neckarwestheim 2 and Isar 2, to be able to run for a few more months into next year, so that we always have sufficient electricity available.
In an interview with the FAZ: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, FAZ publisher Berthold Kohler and Eckart Lohse, head of the parliamentary editorial department of the FAZ in Berlin (from left).
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Image: Daniel Pilar
Unlike Economics Minister Habeck, the FDP not only wants to keep the two nuclear power plants in reserve for this winter, but also wants them to be extended for several years. Is it already over with the unity in the coalition? Which side do you take in this dispute?
As is well known, the FDP has a somewhat different view of nuclear power, which is completely legitimate. Now it’s about the energy supply for the coming winter, and the government will act in a very consensual manner.
Regardless of this, the energy transition will continue?
