Sometimes events unfold as if they were ordered. This Tuesday, August 20, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) attended the symbolic start of the construction of the chip factory in Dresden. It should ensure the supply of chips to Germany and Europe, and it is subsidized by billions of euros from the German government. Scholz calls chips "the oil of the 21st century" and did not miss the opportunity to attend the event in person. It is as if he is saying: "Crisis, what crisis?" It is therefore about the future of the economy.
But, these days, the question of the future of the chancellor himself is often raised. Namely, the term "interim chancellor" is being mentioned more and more often. At the same time, that expression did not come from the opposition, but from the ruling coalition. In a recent interview with the public service ARD, the leader of the Green Party, Omid Nuripur, described the current government as a "transitional government after the Angela Merkel era".
Šolz's laconic commentary
That statement caused stormy reactions. Scholz himself does not see himself as some kind of "transitional chancellor", and in his characteristic manner he commented:
"Every government is a transitional government before the next one - and sometimes it's the same government." However, Scholz admitted at a dialogue with citizens organized on Monday in Bremen that difficult decision-making processes (on the budget above all) overshadowed the coalition's achievements. At the same time, he called on his coalition partners for "good governance" and "good behavior".
It is debatable whether the public rebuke of Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) in the recent budget dispute was "good behavior". Social Democrat Scholz acted as someone who wants to publicly show his finance minister from the ranks of the FDP that he has a better understanding of monetary policy. That dispute, which Greens representative Nuripur called "perhaps the most senseless of all disputes," further accelerated the centrifugal forces that have long divided the ruling coalition. Since then, it seems as if its members try to stick together just to resist the feeling of their own transience. Because who else wants to be just "transitional"?
FDP wants to "rule in the future"
And while the chancellor was talking about the future of the economy in Dresden, FDP transport minister Volker Wiesing used a tour of the construction site for the renovation of the Ridban railway line, an important part of the intercity transport network, on Tuesday to talk about the future of the railways. He describes the railway, which has become a symbol of everything that is not working in Germany, as an "old-timer" that he inherited from previous governments.
Vissing also commented on the issue of the "transitional government": "The FDP does not want to rule temporarily, but also in the future." It remains open whether it will be with a traffic light coalition (SDP, Greens, FDP). And as for Nuripur's statement, Vissing says he can't understand it. He obviously has a different opinion, says the Minister of Transport.
Habek wants to become chancellor
The third partner in the coalition, the Greens, also announced. Economy Minister Robert Habek, who will probably be the Greens' candidate for chancellor in the next federal elections, organized a dialogue with citizens in his Ministry on Tuesday. He wants to listen, to enter into dialogue, to be available, to open the Ministry of Economy to citizens. He clearly wants to improve his image, and his eyes are already directed towards the chancellor's office.
Although his chances are not great at the moment, Habek has already sent a message: "If I ever become chancellor, Christian Lindner will not be finance minister." His disillusionment with the ruling coalition became apparent after the minimal compromise reached in the budget negotiations. It is hard to imagine that the distance to one's own coalition can be greater than that of Habek's.
And is this government transitional or not? In any case, it becomes clear that everyone is now working for themselves.
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