Britta Haßelmann, the leader of the Green parliamentary faction, heavily criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) while offering support to the increasingly fractured black-red coalition. Speaking to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” she stated that Merz has consistently criticized the “traffic light” coalition in the past and always acted as if he knew better. “And now he descends into self-pity. What is that supposed to mean?” she questioned.
According to Haßelmann, his behavior is cyclical: first, he sets high expectations, then disparages people, only to present something minimal in the end. She explained that this pattern frequently disappoints the public. Haßelmann likened his current political standing to a failure in sports, commenting, “My impression is, to put it in a football analogy: Friedrich Merz is not on the pitch”.
She also noted the irony of Merz previously describing Olaf Scholz as a “master of power utilities” (Klempner der Macht), suggesting that his own actions now reveal he does not live up to those standards. “Good master of power utilities is certainly not something you see in the chancellery” she added.
Meanwhile, she pointed out that Merz and his party have access to the best possible financial conditions, including the special fund negotiated by the Greens. Haßelmann stressed that the coalition needs to invest significantly in failing infrastructure, climate protection, and the railway system. She argued that Angela Merkel (CDU) and Olaf Scholz (SPD) did not have such strong prerequisites. “The fact that so little is coming out nonetheless-this doesn’t just irritate me. It is negligent” she asserted.
The Green faction leader concluded by declaring that the Greens are ready to take responsibility for fundamental matters that will advance the country, particularly meaningful reforms within the social safety net. “But what the federal government is doing lacks a coherent concept and will neither make people’s lives better nor fairer” she criticized.
Haßelmann stressed that the Greens’ core desire is for tangible improvements for citizens, especially concerning the shift away from fossil fuels, which must be reduced rather than cemented. “The Chancellor and the coalition are failing here”. She warned against complacency, stating that the Greens do not accept an early end to government action. “I find it irresponsible to settle for things just because things are going badly” she concluded. “My expectation for this government is clear: pull yourselves together and deliver”.