During their first closed cabinet meeting since taking office just over six weeks ago, ministers from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s traffic light coalition already have plenty to talk about.
Russia and Ukraine
Germany’s plans and priorities during its presidency of the G7 group of major industrialized nations are up for discussion, with Russia’s massing of troops on the Ukraine border likely to be of particular concern. The Cabinet meeting coincides with a meeting between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his Russian opposite number, Sergei Lavrov. The coalition parties are wrestling with the question of what leverage they can use to prevent any military escalation by Russia. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s Green Party has said it is prepared to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project in the face of Russian aggression. Social Democrat Scholz has shied away from instrumentalizing the gas pipeline — which runs under the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany — but still maintains it is an option. The neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) have signaled they would prefer a tougher approach toward Russia. Ukraine is also urging Germany to supply it with weapons to help repel any attack, but Berlin has so far refused.
Record coronavirus figures
Ministers were also due to discuss the coalition’s changes to Germany’s Infection Protection Act, which sets a limit on measures that the country’s 16 states can take. It prevents, for example, a blanket lockdown. However, with infection numbers on the rise — a record 140,160 new daily cases reported on Friday — such steps could come up for discussion again if the healthcare system reaches its limits. It’s thought that the FDP would likely put the brakes on a re-tightening of the act.
‘New beginning’ for Germany
The coalition will also be seeking to make progress on its wider policy aims agreed in a deal between the 3 parties. Scholz became Germany’s chancellor in December after 16 years with Angela Merkel at the helm, pledging his center-left-led coalition would offer a “new beginning” for Europe’s top economy. The government’s ambitious program includes slashing carbon emissions, overhauling digital infrastructure, modernizing citizenship laws, lifting the minimum wage, and legalizing marijuana. Economic Affairs and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck is planning a two-stage program to speed up climate protection. There are numerous potential points of friction in the details. For example, the question of how to bring forward the phasing out of coal, and on transport. Proposals are to be discussed on the removal of bureaucratic and planning hurdles when it comes to the expansion of renewable energy such as wind power. rc/wmr (AFP, dpa, Reuters)