Awwkward tactic, resulting in a turnaround: events unfolded with a twist
The Green parliamentary group chairwoman, Katharina Dröge, has shown openness towards a potential shift in the combustion engine phase-out, causing a stir in the ongoing debate about the future of the automotive industry in Germany.
Dröge's statements, made recently, may have inadvertently given more legitimacy to conservative efforts to overturn the phase-out of combustion engines. This development comes as the German government grapples with the question of whether the industry needs to move into the future.
The Green faction leader, however, has since clarified her stance, demanding a clear commitment to the phase-out of combustion engines in 2035 from the federal government. She stated that the question of whether the phase-out happens a year earlier or later is not the main issue.
The crisis caused by Dröge's initial statement appears to have been averted, with the German Press Agency reporting on her subsequent correction on Monday afternoon. However, it is unclear if this incident has caused some internal party strife within the Greens.
Meanwhile, the right-wing shift and climate backlash cannot be stopped by the Greens practicing similar tactics themselves, according to some political analysts. This is evident in the recent demands by CSU leader Markus Söder to reverse the progress made in the phase-out of combustion engines.
In related news, the International Automobile Association (IAA) auto show begins in Munich on Tuesday, providing a platform for the automotive industry to showcase its vision for the future.
It is worth noting that Germany, under the traffic light government, initially insisted on an exemption clause for passenger cars that can only run on CO-neutral E-Fuels. However, this exemption has been a point of contention, with some calling for a stricter stance on the phase-out.
The regulation eventually came through, meaning no new combustion engines will be allowed from 2035 onwards. This is in line with the European Union's plans, which have been planned to prohibit the registration of cars causing climate-damaging emissions from 2035.
In other Green Party news, Cem Özdemir, the Green Party’s parliamentary group leader in Baden-Württemberg who served as Federal Minister of Agriculture and is currently the Green candidate for the 2026 Baden-Württemberg state election, was elected as the lead candidate on May 24, 2025.
Dröge's motives for her initial openness may have been influenced by her desire to avoid appearing anti-car in the region of Mercedes-Benz. However, she seems to have recognized her mistake and stated that questioning the phase-out date in 2035 would be a big mistake.
The website reporting this development is an independent, left-wing, and opinionated daily newspaper, founded in 1979.
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