A detailed letter has been exchanged between Omid Nouripour, a Green Party politician and Vice President of the German Bundestag and Markus Söder, the leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) and Minister-President of Bavaria, addressing accusations of the Green Party’s alleged opposition to automobiles.
The correspondence, revealed by “Der Spiegel”, stemmed from a recent interview in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” where Söder criticized the Green Party for contributing to the challenges facing Germany’s automotive sector. Söder asserted that the Green Party’s stance was detrimental to the industry and the broader economy, highlighting the automotive sector’s crucial role in the German economy.
In his five-page reply, Nouripour refuted Söder’s claims, emphasizing the importance of the German automotive industry and affirming shared understanding of its significance. He rejected what he described as a longstanding and predictable accusation that the Green Party is anti-car, stating that his aim was focused on safeguarding the future of the industry.
The debate has been intensified by the European Union’s planned ban on new combustion engine vehicles from 2035. Söder had previously criticized this policy. Nouripour, in turn, referenced Söder’s past statements advocating for earlier deadlines for phasing out combustion engines, noting the potential for repeating past errors during a critical juncture.
Nouripour also acknowledged concerns raised by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume regarding the feasibility of the 2035 deadline and echoed remarks from Cem Özdemir, a Green Party candidate, suggesting that the precise timing is less critical than maintaining a consistent path towards electric mobility. He emphasized the need for flexibility and clarity in policy to foster reliable progress and the appropriate infrastructure to support the transition, rather than hindering it.
