In a heated debate on the future of Germany’s steel industry, Green party candidate Robert Habeck took a strong stance against CDU leader Friedrich Merz, calling his statements “uninformed, cold-hearted, and irresponsible.” Habeck’s criticism was sparked by Merz’s comments at the CDA’s Betriebsrätekonferenz in Bochum, where the CDU leader expressed skepticism about green steel, questioning the source of the necessary hydrogen and the cost of the transition.
Habeck, the current German Minister of Economic Affairs, strongly disagreed with Merz’s views, stating that anyone who does not believe in green steel can also say goodbye to the steel industry and its employees in Germany. He emphasized that those who block the path to green steel are not only weakening the German economy but also making the country more dependent on foreign imports and taking away the livelihood of thousands of people and their families.
The Green party candidate reiterated the need for a green steel industry, citing the imperative of meeting climate goals and the importance of maintaining a competitive edge in the global market. He acknowledged that the transition would not be easy and would require significant investment, but emphasized that inaction would be much more costly.
The debate highlights the stark differences in approach between the two parties, with the CDU’s Merz seemingly more focused on short-term economic gains and the Greens’ Habeck prioritizing the long-term sustainability of the industry and the country as a whole.