ZDF Talk: "Markus Lanz": Violent exchange of blows with Green politicians

Things just aren’t going well for the Greens. After almost a year in the federal government, the environmental party is facing one chaos: the protests in the coal village of Lützerath, the accusation of broken climate promises, plus the unusual weapon policy positions in the Ukraine war. Have the Greens given up their principles in the traffic light coalition?

“Markus Lanz” – These were the guests:

The Green politicians have to answer this question on Wednesday Anton Hofreiter ask at “Markus Lanz”. He has to answer to the moderator himself, among other things, because Lanz hands out violently that evening. In the end it comes to a real Zoff.

Hofreiter: Follow events in the Ukraine war

At the beginning of the evening, however, the Green politician himself held the word. Hofreiter is still committed to the delivery of the Leopard 2 tank to Ukraine – an unusual position for his party. Hofreiter comments on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) hesitant attitude that Germany shouldn’t constantly hide behind other countries: “As a Federal Republic of Germany, we’re always chasing events.”

The “delay strategy” does not lead to prudence, but to the fact that Russia assumed to be able to win the war, so Hofreiter. With Markus Lanz, he seems to have found open ears: “I hear great frustration and great disappointment,” the moderator sums up with understanding.

Ukraine Crisis – The most important news about the war

But Lanz seems in today provocative mood, and so it is not surprising that his next question in the direction of Hofreiter is much sharper than his previous empathetic observation: “Are you still with the Greens?” the moderator asks suddenly. “Sometimes I’m not so sure.” oh dear

Quota question at Lanz: journalist taunts

Brief laughter, shaking off, next topic: It’s about Boris Pistorius (SPD), parity, gender quotas. After all, the SPD’s new defense minister replaces a female predecessor. the gender equality in the Scholz cabinet, which the chancellor candidate at the time had promised in November 2020? Suspended for now.

Hofreiter now seems to be struggling with the reproachful questions for the first time: “One must also state that the times crass are,” says the Green politician soothingly, alluding to the energy crisis, the economic situation and the Ukraine war. “Of course it would be better if things went differently,” he admits. “In the end, however, there has to be a government give.”

The group wants this excuses journalist Julia Löhr interjects: Hofreiter himself fell victim to a quota a year ago when party colleague Cem Özdemir, a politician with a history of migration, was given the ministerial post for the agriculture department. “You didn’t seem so relaxed there,” she teases. The others grin in amusement.

Lanz against Hofreiter: “Argumentative dead end”

But before Hofreiter can defend himself, the next thematic blow against the Greens follows: Because while Hofreiter almost moderates the women’s quota at Lanz, a week and a half ago in Thuringia she demanded the dismissal of the Green Minister of Justice Dirk Adams in favor of a woman. “I call that discrimination!” Lanz rants, after all, Adams was clearly disadvantaged because of his gender. More on the subject: First black East Minister: This is how Doreen Denstädt ticks

Hofreiter now lets his shoulders sag more and more tiredly and looks at the studio ceiling in annoyance from time to time. Adams didn’t have to leave because of the quota, he explains. Hofreiter does not want to name any other reasons. “It’s just indecent after one resignation throwing dirt after it,” he says. “You have to accept that decisions are made.”

But Lanz does not give up – and now attacks the Green politician directly. “You’re not going to get anywhere with feigned indignation, you’re stuck in an argumentative dead end,” said Lanz. He suggests that the Greens have dismissed a flawless politician in Adams – for a supposed gender ideology: “The one with the dirt When in doubt, you are,” judges the moderator. Hofreiter takes large sips from his water glass, the other guests are silent.

The Green politician is now going counterattack to: “If you say that gender equality is an ideology, I have to disagree,” he shoots at Lanz. He laughs, but brushes off the accusation. And deals a final blow: “Shall we now talk about the second Green problem?” He moderates the topic.

Lützerath near Lanz: climate activist shoots against Hofreiter

Unsurprisingly, Hofreiter also received violent counter-reactions in the discussion about Lützerath. The climate activist David Dresen, who lives in the coal village of Kuckum, accuses the Green politician and his party dishonesty Before. According to Dresen, the Greens were selling a deal as a climate measure, which was primarily about energy security and favors for RWE. Also read: Green leader Lang calls the eviction of Lützerath “painful”

Hofreiter begins by explaining: Russian natural gas has replaced and blackout must be avoided, he explains, visibly distressed. But as soon as he has spoken his last word, the next tip flies in his direction: “Is that your argument or that of the CDU?” Dresen scoffs. It now seems clear: Hofreiter can no longer get out of this number today.

Julia Löhr has the final word that evening: “It’s easy to make demands from the opposition,” she comments on the environmental party’s formerly more radical climate course. The Greens are part of the traffic light coalition “in the reality Arrived.” After this broadcast, Anton Hofreiter can probably no longer deny that. More on the subject: “Anne Will”: Thunberg attacks the Greens – “hypocritical”

Markus Lanz: That’s how the last programs went

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