Berlin Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) has called on the coalition to focus on economic policy in the second half of the legislative period after some heated debate over energy and climate policy. “We cannot be politically opposed to the social majority,” Buschmann told Handelsblatt
“If we see that we may be going too fast, too fast or too much in some areas, then it’s better to pause and maybe make improvements,” Buschman said with an eye toward the Building Energy Act (GEG).
The Union must ensure future growth and prosperity. The traffic lights must say more strongly that “we are fighting for the future of Germany as a prosperous country”.
Buschman also called on the coalition to set new priorities to slow the rise of the AfD. Many potential AfD voters do not believe the party can improve the situation in the country. However, it was “viewed as an appropriate means to combat serious parties”.
People want to rebalance priorities. “There are real concerns about a recession,” Buschman warned.
Read the full interview with Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann:
Minister, the Federal Constitutional Court has temporarily suspended the heating bill. Does this surprise you?
Stopping the heating law was undoubtedly an exceptional decision. However, special criteria also apply to summary proceedings before the Federal Constitutional Court. How the court ultimately decides on the matter remains to be seen. In any case, the Bundestag will not decide on the law until after the summer holidays, which is not dramatic. Because the law is objectively not urgent. Only when the urban heating plan is implemented will it really play a role. It will take a while.
If the law is not urgent, why should it be passed under the expedited process?
Parliament made this decision. This is in line with the wishes of some coalitions. In principle, the Bundestag also requires a very fast legislative process. Even democracies must be able to act quickly and decisively. We see this with liquefied gas injection legislation. It is important that Parliament is able to act in the shortest possible time.
But the speaker of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, warned in March that too many emergency procedures could damage democracy. Associations and unions have also repeatedly complained that the deadline for hearings on the legislative process is too short. So how could this happen?
As a member of the federal government, I cannot judge the parliamentary process. But as the federal government, of course we also participate in the legislative process. After all the crisis legislation, we have to go back to normal mode. First we have to deal with the corona virus, then Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. What followed was an energy crisis and high inflation. We have to react quickly and decisively to all these things. But this crisis model must not be allowed to become part of the legislative process.
What exactly does this mean?
Adequate deadlines ultimately help ensure quality. For example, I did an assessment last year of the time the Department of Justice spends conducting legal reviews. We sampled 261 programs and found that in 40% of cases other departments gave us deadlines of 24 hours or less. No wonder, then, that we occasionally use this as grounds for criticism.
>> Read here: Uncertainty over heating law debate – industry warns of possible burglary during building renovations
Traffic lights have recently been mired in perpetual controversy, and not just because of heating laws. Now, the AfD is at 20% in the polls. What role do divided alliances play in this?
Some people blame the traffic lights. It is true to say that the CDU is contributing to the rise of the AfD. I think both are a bit immature. When serious Democrats bicker over populist challenges, you’re playing the populist game. My analysis is different.
Right now?
According to the study, two-thirds of potential AfD voters do not believe in the party’s ability to improve the situation in the country. You even know that the AfTO is a positional risk. However, it was seen as a suitable means to kick serious parties. The message: “We want to see a rebalancing of priorities.” There are real concerns about a recession. No one can take for granted that our prosperity is once and for all.
what’s next
It’s simple: we should do everything we can to make our country stronger economically again, but it won’t cost us materially. The investment climate must improve and location selection must become more competitive. People need to see that it’s worth addressing the issues here again. This confidence in a future of growth and prosperity removes fear—the best antidote to right-wing populism.
Right-wing populist parties are currently enjoying great success in the opinion polls.
(Photo: dpa)
that’s all?
Immigration remains a concern for many. Most citizens feel good when people come to us to work and contribute to the country’s prosperity. Our economy even depends on it. But they argue that if we create regulations that allow systemic immigration to use Social Security, it’s not a good thing.
This argument is not populism, but the force of reason.
>> Read here: Concerns over Germany as a location – desperately looking for anti-alternative strategy
If you have a developed welfare state, then you also have to control who is allowed to immigrate. Otherwise the system may be overwhelmed. We will ensure this by amending immigration law and developing European asylum law accordingly. We then enforce more order and clear rules, which is the best way to remove the breeding ground for populism.
For the past few weeks, Federal President Steinmeier has invited the leaders of the ruling parties to Bellevue Palace. He called for managing upheaval in energy policy in a way that maintains popular cohesion. Do you see the problem?
The Federal President expressed correct and important thoughts. We cannot enact politics against the majority of society. If we find that we may be progressing too fast, too fast or too much in some areas, it is better to pause and even improve. Our proposition and goal must be to have a policy that will convince the majority.
The Federal President cares about social cohesion.
(Photo: dpa)
Is this currently the case with the Heating Act?
We found that GEG employees were worried about being financially overwhelmed. The fear is growing: “Now the state forces me to remove and replace the heating in winter.” Owners of ordinary self-occupied properties, in particular, worry about their savings and sometimes their life’s work. It was therefore necessary, indeed inevitable, for laws to be overturned in Parliament.
>> Read here: Speed limits cut CO2 almost as much as heating laws – commentary
Are citizens’ fears and resentments not being taken seriously enough?
Many citizens worry about whether Germany will still be an economically strong and wealthy country a few years from now, offering them the opportunity to live a fulfilling and prosperous life. We must therefore make it clear that we are working to ensure that Germany remains a prosperous country in the future.
As Minister of Justice, how do you promote Germany as a business location?
Even if the Attorney General is not the number one person in charge of economic development, it is important to me that we set our ambitions: we do a lot to speed up planning through our own laws and by advising other ministries.
We are working with the federal states to digitize the judiciary and will create new commercial courts. We are working with the Federal Treasury on future financing laws. We’re coordinating the Bureaucratic Relief Act right now. When the whole of government prioritizes growth and prosperity, more will rally behind us.
>> Read here: Executive madness from start to finish—and how to deal with it
So the coalition’s focus is on economic policy?
At least that’s what I would suggest as a coalition. Because I think it’s appropriate for the situation at the time. We note that investment activity is coming under pressure. We are facing a technical recession. In this case, it is advisable not to ignore the facts. We should respond with policies that ensure future growth and prosperity. That’s the theme of the second half of our legislature.
When did bureaucratic downsizing begin?
We’ve been doing this for a long time: First, we survey businesses and associations. They sent us over 440 specific suggestions. We can’t implement everything, for example, because some of them are related to European laws, and we can’t deviate from them. We’re working now on the cornerstone of Bureaucracy Relief Act 4, which we’ll introduce in the summer.
After the first three relief laws were introduced, the umbrella organization for the German economy complained that their effects were barely noticeable in business practice. Does Germany need more than a small scale?
You have to solve problems the way they arise. Entrepreneurs report many small intrusions in their daily lives, which they see as micromanagement by politicians. This gives them a sense of being restrained. They don’t wear thick handcuffs that can be released in one go. Like Gulliver, you are paralyzed by many small clues. That’s why we first had to cut those little cues and then make sure not too many new ones came along.
Mr. Buschmann, thank you very much for this interview.
more: How the Traffic Light Coalition is using climate funds