German energy companies react to close national elections
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The print editions of the Bild newspaper show the candidates of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and Armin Laschet of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), after the first polls at the exit of the general elections in Berlin, Germany, September 26, 2021 REUTERS / Andreas Gebert
FRANKFURT, Sept. 27 (Reuters) – The German Social Democrats (SPD) narrowly won Sunday’s national elections, with the most likely outcome being a three-way alliance led by either the SPD or Chancellor Angela’s conservatives Merkel.
Agreeing on a new coalition could take months, however, and will likely involve the Little Greens and the Free Liberal Democrats (FDP). Read more
Here are the reactions from some of the biggest German companies:
CHRISTIAN BRUCH, CEO of SIEMENS ENERGY (ENR1n.DE):
“What we least need now is partisan calculation. The objective must be to form a government capable of acting as quickly as possible which combines the various competences … The electoral campaign is over, the parties must now show in the coalition negotiations that they are serious about the energy transition.This includes more honesty in the debate: the transformation will involve painful restrictions and, at least initially, will also cost jobs.
LEONHARD BIRNBAUM, CEO of E.ON (EONGn.DE):
“The next coalition negotiations must focus on modern climate and economic policy. After all, we in Germany have not only set ourselves a very ambitious climate neutrality target for 2045, but we can also trigger a huge economic stimulus package with the energy turnaround. .. On the road to climate neutrality, a new German government will be judged on whether our energy supply is secure, affordable and clean. To achieve this, we need more room for innovation and investment in the future. “
MARKUS KREBBER, CEO of RWE (RWEG.DE):
“Germany needs stability and a clear course. We have a decade of big changes ahead of us. We need speed to chart the right tracks for a climate neutral industry, to modernize our infrastructure and massively push digitization. To achieve this we need a unified and powerful government that acts now. “
HEAD OF THE BDEW UTILITY COMPANY ASSOCIATION, KERSTIN ANDEAE:
“A new government must pave the way for rapid expansion of renewable energy and the expansion and reallocation of energy grids … Any new coalition must continue to develop a hydrogen economy.”
Compiled by Christoph Steitz, Tom Kaeckenhoff and Vera Eckert, edited by Tomasz Janowski
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