Politicians Urge Merz to Exclude Controversial Figures from Coalition Talks

In a significant political development, Konstantin von Notz, the deputy chairman of the Green Party's parliamentary group, has called on CDU leader Friedrich Merz to exclude certain politicians from ongoing coalition negotiations. This request comes in light of recent statements made by some CDU members regarding the potential resumption of gas imports from Russia.

Von Notz emphasized the urgent security threats posed by Russia to Germany and Europe, arguing that Merz must act decisively by removing those who have made controversial remarks from the negotiation teams. He stated the necessity for Merz to recognize the gravity of the situation and to ensure that those expressing such views are not part of the discussions.

The remarks that prompted this reaction include comments from Jan Heinisch, the CDU's deputy in the North Rhine-Westphalia parliament, who suggested that discussions about Russian gas imports could resume once peace is established. Additionally, Thomas Bareiß, a CDU Bundestag member from Baden-Württemberg, commented on LinkedIn about the possibility of reactivating the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, linking it to future negotiations involving U.S. investors and a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

Bareiß pointed out that if peace were to return and relations normalize, Europe might once again consider purchasing Russian gas, stressing the market-driven nature of such decisions. He noted that pipeline gas remains more affordable and environmentally friendly compared to liquefied natural gas (LNG), suggesting that Russian gas could find buyers in Europe once again.

However, the Green Party firmly opposes any revival of the Nord Stream 2 project, which was designed to transport gas from Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany but was halted following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The previous coalition government had already made it clear that the project would not proceed under current geopolitical conditions.

A spokesperson for the CDU later clarified that discussions about the potential reopening of Nord Stream 2 should not be interpreted as the party's official stance, reaffirming their commitment to reducing dependency on Russian gas supplies.

Furthermore, an open letter from the Center for Liberal Modernity has urged both Merz and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil to categorically reject any return to energy partnerships with Russia and the commissioning of the Nord Stream pipelines. The letter argues against making energy security dependent on a regime that remains a threat, even after a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.

This ongoing debate highlights the broader challenges faced by German and European policymakers as they navigate energy security amid rising tensions with Russia.