"What doesn't work is simply to block everything," says Green leader Lang

Before the meeting of the coalition committee on Sunday, Greens leader Ricarda Lang renewed her party's criticism of the traffic light partners. “All democratic parties have committed to the goal that we will become carbon neutral by 2045. But when it gets concrete, everyone suddenly ducks away,” she told the newspapers of the Bayern media group (Saturday editions). It wouldn't work like that.

“You can talk about the right way. What doesn't work is simply blocking everything," Lang criticized. Regarding the state of the coalition, in which there are currently several controversial issues, she said: "There are also jerky issues in a government. In the future, there should be less jerking again.” Now is the time to find solutions. When asked whether this could be done on Sunday, the Greens leader did not want to commit herself.

SPD, Greens and FDP want to meet on Sunday for a coalition committee to tackle key issues. These include the budget and priorities for the coming year. The Greens and FDP in particular have been arguing for weeks about central projects such as basic child security. In addition, there are additional financial demands for budget planning from numerous departments, which add up to up to 70 billion euros.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) wants to continue to comply with the debt brake as this year. Because of the conflict, he had to postpone the cabinet decision planned for mid-March on the 2024 budget and the financial plan until 2027. There is also a dispute in the government about the combustion engine shutdown in the EU blocked by the FDP, the acceleration of planning and an immediate climate protection program for the transport sector.

The Green leader also criticized the energy policy of Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). “The climate crisis is a threat to our freedom and security. Climate protection is nothing other than protecting humanity,” said Lang. She thinks it is irresponsible how Söder acts in this context.

"Instead of taking responsibility, Markus Söder throws sand in people's eyes and doesn't take the truth too seriously. Motto: First me and then the country.” He is delaying the expansion of renewables, for example, and would rather continue to cement dependence on gas. "Didn't he learn anything from being dependent on Russian gas, even in Bavaria? This attitude does not solve any problem, but becomes a location risk for Bavaria.”

The effects of the climate crisis can also be seen in his state: "Last season there was once again too little snow on the Bavarian ski slopes, a threat to the local economy," said Lang.

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