Bidding adieu to a seasoned environmentalist
Jürgen Trittin is considered the epitome of the Green Party. Recently, he announced that he's leaving daily politics for good. In an interview on the ARD talk show "Maischberger," he reflects on his political career and even peers into the future.
He's been a prominent political figure: Trittin served as a member of parliament, the highest-ranking Green Party candidate, and Federal Minister of the Environment. His most notable accomplishment is the nuclear phase-out in Germany, despite his reluctance to embrace this title. He celebrated his farewell with a unique guest - former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Despite their political differences and 16 years of unsuccessful attempts to replace her as Chancellor, Trittin invited her to deliver the laudatory speech at his farewell party.
Trittin's fateful moment came in 2013 when the CDU/CSU formed a coalition with the FDP, which failed miserably. Shortly after, there were exploratory talks with the Greens, but they had different priorities, such as climate protection and investment in education. The CDU/CSU showed no interest in these initiatives, leaving the Greens untouched. The black-green coalition lasted until the grand coalition formed eight years ago.
The reason for the FDP's demise was the frequent disagreements between them and the CSU. There were similar tensions in the traffic light coalition, although the disputes began much later during the parties' collaboration.
Future of the Traffic Light Coalition
Trittin believes the fate of the traffic light coalition depends on the budget discussions. Although all coalition partners seem to want to see it through, he believes that if the budget negotiations fail, one of the parties might decide to end the government prematurely. However, he's optimistic that this won't happen since the strategic interest in keeping the coalition intact is higher.
He believes that the coalition members should focus on enduring through difficult times and showcasing their achievements in the upcoming election campaign.
Nuclear Phase-Out
A significant achievement is the nuclear phase-out, which he's been advocating for decades. Now, 60% of Germany's electricity comes from renewable energy sources. Furthermore, nuclear power plants are prohibitively expensive. The only reconstruction of one reactor core in the US occurred 45 years ago. These factors motivated his long battle for the phase-out in Germany.
Trittin also supported the Bundeswehr's involvement in war missions in Kosovo in 1998, Macedonia, and Afghanistan. The Greens are now often seen as pro-war advocates. Trittin insists this is a misperception. "The warmonger today is Vladimir Putin," he says, recommending that Germany invest in national defense and eliminate arms deficits.
In summary, Jürgen Trittin played a pivotal role in the Green Party's history and leaves behind a remarkable legacy. His most notable accomplishments include the nuclear phase-out and advocating for the Bundeswehr's participation in war missions. Will his greatest triumph be yet to come? Would Angela Merkel join the Green Party? Only time will tell.
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Jürgen Trittin's partnership with Angela Merkel during his farewell party was a testament to their political differences, as she delivered the laudatory speech despite their contrasting views on becoming Chancellor. Trittin's initiative to include Merkel in his farewell celebration highlighted their shared commitment to the nuclear phase-out, a policy that he spearheaded while serving as Federal Minister of the Environment.
Regardless of Angela Merkel's future political plans, Jürgen Trittin's impact on the Alliance 90/The Greens and Germany's nuclear phase-out will continue to shape their environmental policies for years to come.
Source: www.ntv.de
