This FDP man calls for a speed limit and mandatory labeling for "combat cyclists"

WORLD: Mr. Sormaz, how do we get through the winter?

Ümit Sormaz: Putin started this unspeakable war and we don't know what decisions he will make. But it is clear that we must also react to this at the municipal level. And we have to check everything. In Nuremberg we don't have a clear idea yet, but in Munich they have already thought about it. Renewable energies will obviously play a role, but only 25 percent of Bavaria's energy consumption can be covered in this way.

We overslept the topic of renewable energies in Bavaria. That means we now have to look at things that we have already finished with. We have a power plant in Nuremberg that is operated with gas today, but used to be operated with coal. Under these circumstances, perhaps we should reconsider how right that is, at least at the moment.

In addition, we didn't have a Christmas market last year because of Corona. So that this year it doesn't take place in the dark and without lights, we have to do something. For example, continue to use the fuel rods in nuclear power plants.

"7 Days, 7 Nights" is the political weekly with Frédéric Schwilden. Every Friday he welcomes a political guest to a slightly different weekly review. Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Google Podcasts or via RSS feed, among others.

WORLD: How did you find the nuclear phase-out after Fukushima?

Sormaz: Saying goodbye to a technology in which we were in the lead is simply not possible in my opinion. And we haven't developed anything new for it. The federal government said at the time that we had a good ally, Vladimir Putin, but that was only for the short term. That was a campaign strategy that is costing us very, very dearly right now.

WORLD: A new energy saving regulation came into force in Germany this week: there must be no hot water in public washbasins. No neon signs may burn between 10 p.m. and 4 p.m., and buildings and monuments may no longer be illuminated at night.

Sormaz: We had curfews due to Corona, and now we have them, at least in the city, because of the darkness. I am also the chairman of the Nuremberg South Civic Association. And there's a square and it's not well lit in winter.

Ladies in particular have said that they feel very unsafe there. They avoid this place. If we now turn off the lights everywhere, it would be tantamount to another curfew for these people.

WORLD: Last week you spoke out in favor of a speed limit for cyclists in downtown Nuremberg. To save energy?

Sormaz: It wasn't about all cyclists for me, but about the combat cyclists. The statistics show that the number of cyclists is increasing. That's okay. I'm a self-confessed driver, but I think it's important to switch to cycling. Due to the increasing number of cyclists, there has been a significant increase in accidents between cyclists and pedestrians in Nuremberg.

And hence my idea of ​​the speed limit. Maybe we can get the situation under control. I also ask for a label. Similar to the moped. If a cyclist hits a pedestrian and keeps going, you have to be able to investigate the matter. There used to be a saying that a Mercedes has built-in right of way - but that can't apply to cyclists today.

WORLD: Mikhail Gorbachev died this week. Does such a thing as great statesmen and women still exist today?

Sormaz: In any case, Mr. Scholz hasn't grown into it yet. Whereby the initial situation, to which the traffic light took over, was also very, very unfavourable.

WORLD: Is Christian Lindner (FDP) a great statesman?

Sormaz: He's trying to do it very well.

WORLD: Can you think of a great stateswoman that you admired?

Sormaz: Franz Josef Strauss, yes. That was a real leader. Of course he had weaknesses. But he whipped things through.

WORLD: I meant a woman.

Sormaz: In the early years maybe Angela Merkel.

"Change of power" is the WELT podcast with Dagmar Rosenfeld and Robin Alexander. Every Wednesday. Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer or via RSS feed, among others.