Germany’s large parties have understood nothing about climate action and fairness – opinion

The problem with being in power for a long time is that it becomes possible to judge a politician by whether they fulfilled their promises, writes Cerstin Gammelin in an op-ed for Süddeutsche Zeitung. Angela Merkel in her 13^th year as chancellor is experiencing this now: As an environment minister she occupied green issues and wanted to set strict climate targets. But now – because she wants her party to win the state elections in Hesse – emission limits for diesel cars are getting in her way. Merkel preaches environmental protection but she doesn’t enforce it, writes Gammelin. “Such inconsistency accelerates the loss of confidence with which the traditional people's parties in Germany have to struggle,” Gammelin says.

Read the op-ed in German here.

For background, read the factsheet The story of "Climate Chancellor" Angela Merkel.