Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) accuses former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and her governments, to which Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also belonged, of making serious mistakes in energy policy.

"When you have your picture taken in front of icebergs, but forget that icebergs melt.

Getting off all sorts of things, rightly so, but forget that you have to build infrastructure for that.

If you make climate policy decisions, but don't back them up with measures, then you leave Germany out in the rain," he said on Thursday in the Bundestag in Berlin.

During the final deliberations on the legislative package for the faster expansion of renewable energies, Habeck settled accounts with the previous government policy.

"And that's what we've seen in the past: increasing dependence on Russian fossil fuels, a lack of diversification, non-compliance with climate policy goals, sluggish, even collapsed, expansion of renewable energies," he says.

In his own words, Habeck was reacting to allegations by the “opposition leader”, i.e. the Union.

After the debate, there were votes on five bills and several motions.

The legislative package aims to significantly accelerate the expansion of renewable energies in Germany.

Among other things, energy production from sources such as sun, water and wind is classified as being “of overriding public interest”.

Significantly more energy is to be generated by wind power both at sea and on land.

In the future, two percent of the federal area should be available for wind energy.

The package also regulates the compatibility of wind power with species protection.

"Whatever it takes"

The government is also worried about the energy supply, as Russian gas supplies are faltering and prices are rising.

When asked about a possible collapse of the market, Habeck said on Wednesday evening in the ZDF program "Markus Lanz" that that would not happen.

"Now this is this 'whatever it takes' moment, it's not going to happen," he said, echoing statements by former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi.

The Italian had once promised to save the euro with this "whatever is necessary".

With a view to an imminent total failure of Russian gas supplies, Habeck emphasized: “We are not just passive.

We don't have to stand by in amazement at what's happening there." After all, it was also possible to maintain security of supply in Germany despite a 60 percent reduction in gas supplies.

However, citizens would have to be prepared for an expensive winter.

The price increases in autumn and winter 2022/23 would be “in the four-digit range per household.

And that can also be a monthly income for a family.” In the opinion of the Green politician, saving remains the order of the day.

In order to save gas in view of the throttling of Russian deliveries, less gas is to be used to produce electricity - instead, more coal-fired power plants are to be used again.

The Bundestag is expected to vote on the relevant changes to the law late Thursday evening.