Chancellor Olaf Scholz is known for occasionally giving flippant answers.
In most cases, these are interpreted as Hanseatic humor, which differs from other humor, such as British humor, in that it is less casual than condescending.
Although a Hanseatic would certainly have put it differently - would have, would have, bicycle chain, as Hanseatic Peer Steinbrück once said.
What is less well known is that Steinbrück translated this Hanseatism, with which he responded to an unwelcome request, into High German a few sentences later: "Now is also good."
Snootiness of this kind expresses that the one who expresses it now wants to be left alone.
There is basically nothing to be said against it.
Hanseatic citizens, but also everyone else, even politicians, are sometimes bothered with unnecessary things.
It's only right that they show their displeasure, they aren't border collies who have to prove on the agility course that they can jump over the seventeenth stick.
So it was understandable that a few days ago Olaf Scholz simply answered an ARD journalist who asked him if he had "practical everyday tips at hand" on how citizens could save energy, such as heating less or taking shorter showers: "Nope."
"I could." Pause.
"That's it."
However, a Federal Chancellor is often asked questions that do justice to his office and dignity.
Such a question was asked by a journalist at the end of the G-7 summit in Elmau this week, at the press conference called for the occasion, which admittedly is a bad place to be left alone with questions.
Scholz also answered some.
But when the journalist wanted to know if he could describe the promised security guarantees for Ukraine in more detail, Scholz replied: "I could," grinned slouchy, waited briefly and then explained to everyone who couldn't believe that he really meant it so snippy , as it sounded: "That's it." Humor is not when you laugh anyway, but when you know when it's appropriate.
What Scholz expressed was an attitude that is already known from him: he wants to decide for himself when to communicate something.
In April he was asked how long it would take for Germany to be independent of Russian gas.
The Chancellor replied that he would say so when it was done.
It sounded like, Do not disturb, genius at work.
Just stop in Hanseatic.
However, this way of dealing with unwelcome questions is not only widespread among North German executives.
It is an instrument of power used to simulate strength where in reality there is insecurity.
One disqualifies the question instead of giving a perhaps insufficient answer.
But as chancellor you have to endure that.
If Scholz does not want to talk about the security guarantees for Ukraine, then he can explain why, for example because confidentiality was agreed.
That would have been possible even after the "could I" if brashness is counted among the basic guidelines of government communication in the chancellor's office.
But a chancellor who, when he says "I could" only means "I don't do it", misjudges his responsibility.
Scholz should meet seriousness with seriousness.
Otherwise he becomes a spiteomat.