Hard but fair (ARD): Plasberg is also being explored – hardly any doubts about the traffic lights

Frank Plasberg discusses in the ARD talk show “Hart aber fair” on the topic: “Probing the future: Will the parties succeed?”

Berlin / Frankfurt – You could almost have bet that after the federal election in 2021 the exploratory talks between the Greens, FDP, SPD and CDU / CSU for the composition of the new Bundestag would be the topic of the ARD talk “Hard but fair”. It was not to be expected that it would – by and large – run so smoothly. Perhaps also because this time Frank Plasberg invited easy-care guests who were more interested in a discussion than in self-profiling.

And so this time there was no dynamic in the ARD panel discussion when different positions clash. For this purpose, there was another overview of the current situation – practically to take notes – even if you hardly learned anything new.

“Hard but fair” (ARD): The guests at Frank Plasberg’s studio

After a little teasing from Robin Alexander (“Armin Laschet only carries on political bankruptcy”) and Ulrike Herrmann’s assessment that the talks between the CDU and FDP were just a big show to blackmail the SPD, Felix Banaszak went on a cuddle course the FDP: “You have to develop common ideas on an equal footing”. Their veteran Gerhart Baum – who was already a member of the Bundestag when Banaszak was not yet born – made a splash and emphasized the special responsibility of the two parties: “After all, many young people and first-time voters voted for the FDP and the Greens.”

Only Sama Röser, who remained pale in her arguments throughout the evening, reeled off the usual cliché: “The government must finally tackle climate protection and digitization for the young generation – and that with the economy and not against them.” You could do that too understand it as a declaration of love by the non-party entrepreneur to the FDP.

At the ARD talk “Hard but fair”, there is an unusual consensus

How seldom were Herrmann and Alexander agreed in their assessment that the Greens had long favored an alliance with the Union that Robert Habeck in particular had promoted. But that ultimately thwarted the Union: “We are only sitting here because Schäuble has punched the wrong candidate for Chancellor.” Even Gerhart Baum jumped to Armin Laschet’s side: “That goes against all political decency, the way the Union deals with Armin Laschet.”

And even with the red lines drawn by the possible coalition partners before the election, the group saw opportunities for compromise. Banaszak once again got to the point: “Climate protection requires tomorrow’s freedom” – and with a small swipe at the FDP: “Not free travel for free citizens.”

Although the subject of the speed limit – as a single player showed – had probably driven many young people and first-time voters into the arms of the FDP. “But the fear that the Greens would also apply the restrictive Corona policy to climate protection has given the FDP many voters, speculates Robin Alexander.

The explosive in the ARD talk “Hard but fair” is missing

The group does not doubt that the traffic light coalition will ultimately come about, but sees the big sticking points in the increase in the minimum wage to 12 euros promised by the SPD and the Greens. Gerhart Baum immediately reminds of the collective bargaining autonomy of trade unions and entrepreneurs. And he does not want to know anything about tax increases, but he still owes the answer to Ulrike Herrmann’s question about the counter-financing of Lindner’s 90 billion tax relief for the rich.

A topic flashes up again that would certainly have sparked fuel in a lap with a different cast. So it remains one of many sketched out that one would have liked to deepen. But since this time one has to rely on guesswork because of the lack of “piercing” by the negotiating parties, there will probably be a few more tame talk shows before things really get going again. (Rolf-Ruediger Hamacher)