Heating dispute of the traffic light: Kubicki insists on a complete answer to the FDP questionnaire

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Deputy FDP leader Kubicki: "I also expect the presentation of a time perspective"

Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa

In the heating dispute within the traffic light coalition, the fronts are apparently further hardened. FDP deputy party leader Wolfgang Kubicki has now expressed skepticism that the differences in the planned Building Energy Act (GEG) can be bridged in a timely manner.

The 101-question catalog of the FDP parliamentary group must be answered in writing, Kubicki told the newspapers of the Funke media group. Then the entire group would have to evaluate the answers. "Only on this basis can we seriously assess how quickly further negotiations on the Building Energy Act can proceed."

Further negotiations in the internal coalition dispute, which has been smouldering for weeks, will be further burdened by this. Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to meet on Tuesday with members of parliament from the SPD, Greens and FDP and explore a possible compromise in the weeks-long dispute over the law.

Kubicki, however, made new demands: "I not only assume that the Federal Ministry of Economics will answer the extensive list of questions of the FDP parliamentary group, but also expect the presentation of a temporal perspective when the extensive changes to his own legal text announced by Robert Habeck will be presented."

The draft adopted by the cabinet stipulates, among other things, that from the beginning of 2024, every newly installed heating system must be powered by at least 65 percent green energy. Above all, there is criticism of the project from the FDP.

First reading in the Bundestag cancelled

The FDP's lengthy list of questions had led to resentment between the coalition partners because the coalition had already sent a joint list of questions to the Ministry of Economics weeks ago – this was also answered on May 9. The new list of questions gave the impression that the FDP deliberately wanted to delay the law or even stop it altogether (read an analysis here ).

The GEG should actually have been introduced into the Bundestag in the first reading the previous week. However, the FDP had stopped this with reference to the unresolved issues. Due to the delays, it is questionable whether the law can come into force as planned at the turn of the year.

fek/dpa