The coalition’s poisoned magic word
‘And the world begins to sing, if only you know the magic word,’ wrote Joseph von Eichendorff 200 years ago. In 2026, a new magic word appears simultaneously on the Maischberger and Lanz talk shows, but it is a poisoned magic word: it is called ‘total package’.
On 24 February 2026, between 11 p.m. and midnight, both talk shows will be arguing about the magic word ‘total package’. On Lanz’s show, Lower Saxony’s Minister-President Olaf Lies (SPD) uses it, and on Maischberger’s show, it is the head of the Chancellery, Thorsten Frei (CDU). The only thing missing from both of them is a magic wand when they ramble on about the ‘total package’ that no one knows what it means or when it will come into effect.
The two magicians use their magic word to evade Lanz and Maischberger’s critical questions about the impact of the new ‘Building Modernisation Act’ on the climate. The presenters wanted to know specifically what the new law means for climate protection. The answer in both cases: the numinous magic word!
The response of environmental organisations to the new law, on the other hand, is clear: BUND calls the new law ‘irresponsible, expensive and harmful to the climate’. Green Planet Energy comments: “The federal government is giving the gas lobby another billion-euro gift and, despite many warnings, is allowing citizens to fall into the fossil fuel cost trap. This federal government’s energy policy primarily serves fossil fuel interests. Everyone should be aware that operating oil and gas heating systems will become considerably more expensive in the future… Even the continued operation of ancient gas and oil boilers is now possible again – with a minimal admixture of synthetic gases or hydrogen from any source. How the federal government intends to meet its climate protection targets in the building sector remains a mystery.”
While government representatives take refuge in the magic word ‘total package’ without being able to name any content or even a date for this ‘total package’, the criticism from environmental organisations is clear: ‘Climate protection is being completely scrapped’ (TAZ on 25 February 2026).
The federal managing director of the German Environmental Aid Association (DUH), Barbara Metz, described the federal government’s new law as ‘unconditional fulfilment of all the wishes of the fossil fuel lobby’. Green Party parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge said: ‘This reform is a disaster. With it, the CDU and SPD are driving people into an enormously expensive gas cost trap.’ For tradespeople, heating engineers and local authorities, the reform means above all chaos and uncertainty.
The only ones popping champagne corks are probably the gas companies and the AfD.
This once again highlights the fundamental problem with this coalition: in order to hold its own against the USA and China, Germany must become more innovative. The CDU/CSU and SPD often talk about innovation, but when it comes to being innovative, they prefer to stick with the old, in this case gas and oil, and block the further rapid expansion of renewables. This federal government is staring at the rise of the AfD as fearfully as a snake stares at a rabbit, and does not even notice that it is precisely this fearfulness that is helping the AfD.
