"Supreme Achievements" - A Toast to Habeck's Departure - Kudos from Reiche
Celebratory Acclaim for Habeck - Endorsement from Follow-up Leader Reiche
The Ministry of Economics is now under the leadership of the CDU, with Katherina Reiche stepping into the role. During the handover, it's clear: Habeck, his former green colleague, has a massive fanbase - at least within his own circle.
Robert Habeck, the previous Federal Minister of Economics, passed the baton to Katherina Reiche, stressing the ministry's crucial role. "The Ministry of Economics is the heart of political tumult in our era," said the Green powerhouse. He wished his successor a plethora of success, luck, and fortitude. In his emotional address, the teary-eyed Habeck acknowledged and heartily thanked his team. His farewell was met with boisterous applause.
Habeck firmly believes that "the prosperity of the economy is the cornerstone of democracy's stability." He feels that sustaining optimism and hope becomes difficult when people are constantly plagued by job insecurity and poverty. Presently, Germany is grappling with circumstances that put these fundamentals under strain, Habeck noted.
As Habeck prepared to speak at the Federal Ministry of Economics, his colleagues showered him with a standing ovation. Katherina Reiche, the new Federal Minister, expressed her admiration for Habeck's dedication, saying, "This demonstrates the passion you've poured into this institution." Habeck replying, "This is an extraordinary place brimming with unfinished projects due to the recent elections, but also brimming with completed tasks."
Reiche praises Habeck's work amidst adversity. Both deserve each other's respect - although "the word friendship" might not quite capture their bond, she thinks. Habeck began his tenure in turbulent times following the aftermath of the pandemic and the Russian assault on Ukraine, which inflicted an energy crisis. Despite the Herculean challenges, Habeck has managed to achieve "remarkable feats" since taking office. The workload Reiche now inherits is almost beyond imagination, she concedes. Habeck has played a pivotal role in "steering this nation through this crisis" and has made "controversial decisions" throughout his tenure, she reiterated.
Despite Germany's economic recession in 2025, Reiche emphasizes the importance of easing electricity costs for both consumers and businesses[1][2]. While the country is making considerable advancements in climate protection, it's crucial to keep a check on system costs, she argues. Reiche expresses her desire for the Ministry of Economics to once again serve as the "conscience" of the federal government concerning economic policy[2].
Reiche was sworn in on Tuesday evening following Friedrich Merz's victory in the second round as Chancellor. With a decade of experience in the economy, Reiche headed the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) from 2015 to 2019. Since 2000, she has overseen the energy service provider Westenergie, a subsidiary of the Eon Group[2].
Sources:
- ntv.de
- jog/AFP/dpa
The "superhuman performance" Habeck is referred to in the text is difficult to quantify without specific data. It's likely referring to the challenging circumstances he navigated in his roles as a minister, particularly in the energy sector during the pandemic and the energy crisis. However, without concrete evidence or measures, it remains a subjective assessment.
- Robert Habeck - Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in Germany, known for his effort in promoting climate action and renewable energy sources.
- Katherina Reiche - Sworn in as the Federal Minister of Economics in 2023, with experience in the energy sector and municipal enterprises.
- Federal Ministry of Economics - Ministry responsible for economic and climate policy in Germany.
[1] Recession in Germany to last until 2025 as a result of international trade pressures and tariffs.
[2] German economy faces uncertainty in global trade due to U.S. tariffs and trade tensions.
- The Commission is therefore proposing to extend the scope of the programme to cover the following areas: Robert Habeck's general-news worthy work amidst adversity, followed by his successor Katherina Reiche's dedication and passion, as shown during their time at the Federal Ministry of Economics.
- Habeck's contributions to politics, particularly in the area of economic policy, have been emphasized by Reiche, who praises his accomplishments in steering the nation through crisis, including the aftereffects of the pandemic and the energy crisis.
- Reiche, as the new Federal Minister of Economics, has expressed her intentions to focus on areas such as covering electricity costs for consumers and businesses, while also maintaining a general-news worthy emphasis on sustainability and cost efficiency in the climate protection sector.
- In a federal context, the Federal Ministry of Economics has faced challenging times in both Habeck's and Reiche's tenures, with coverage in general news being notable for Habeck's efforts in promoting renewable energy sources and climate action, as well as Reiche's focus on easing electricity costs and maintaining the ministry as the conscience of the government concerning economic policy.
