Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats (SPD) has paid a visit to thyssenkrupp Steel in Duisburg, shortly before German voters are called upon to elect a new national government.
The visit is seen as a reaction to earlier remarks by Scholz’s adversary, Friedrich Merz, which were interpreted as a dismissal of the idea of “green” steel. Merz, the Christian Democrats (CDU)’s candidate for chancellor, questioned the economic feasibility of the energy transition in view of a lack of affordable energy. He was attacked by several political commentators and subsequently clarified he was not questioning the transition in general.
“Following the doubts expressed by Friedrich Merz … Olaf Scholz found clear words in Duisburg for the future of steel in Germany,” an SPD press release reads. Scholz was cited as saying that “the transition must be enforced, [so that the industry is enabled] to deliver [a new steel product] in time.”
While most of Scholz’s statements were foreseeable, reiterating positions expressed earlier, one tangible detail concerned framework conditions that must be improved. Scholz declared that electricity grid fees – the factor most hurting manufacturing industries in Germany – must be capped, and that this is part of SPD’s programme. The party notes that the visit took place following an invitation from tk Steel’s works council – a detail not mentioned in the company’s official press release about the visit.
In subsequent commentaries in the German press, the visit was largely seen as business as usual in the run-up to elections. One commentator quipped that Scholz “is positioning himself as a steel chancellor, although he was not much of one during his years in office.”
Christian Koehl Germany
