The proposed relaxation of Sunday and public holiday driving bans for trucks, suggested by Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) and already implemented by several federal states, has generated divided reactions within the Green Party. Climate policy spokesman Lisa Badum told the “Tagesspiegel” that the federal government is attempting to merely address the symptoms of the problem in the summer. She disputed the idea of sending even more trucks onto the roads, arguing that the real solution lies in addressing the climate crisis seriously throughout the year. According to Badum, the priority must be maintaining healthy river systems and building heat-resistant railway infrastructure.
Meanwhile, a separate development occurred on Friday when the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Transport, led by the Greens, temporarily and immediately waived the Sunday and public holiday driving ban.
However, Andreas Audretsch, deputy chairman of the Green parliamentary group, views this action as understandable. Audretsch told the “Tagesspiegel” that such measures are necessary to prevent supply bottlenecks, and that this demonstrates how severe the economic damage of the climate crisis already is. At the same time, he criticized Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz for ignoring the issue, noting that Merz had failed to comment on heat fatalities, river levels, or now, logistical shortages. Audretsch labeled this as “notorious denial of reality,” insisting that Merz needs to take charge of coordination in the Chancellery instead of evading the problem.
