Combustion engine: Greens might end up empty-handed once again

The Green Party might have been the first to call for a phase-out of the combustion engine, yet they could still end up without political gains, Barbara Gillmann writes in a commentary on business website Handelsblatt Online. Setting an end date for the combustion engine has almost become an international trend, and tides in Germany, where others have accused the Greens of damaging the country’s industry, could turn quickly in the face of the diesel scandal. “[Chancellor Angela] Merkel has shown often enough that she can change course quickly and ruthlessly if she thinks the time is ripe,” Gillmann argues. “It’s only likely that she will turn around with the combustion engine issue as well – the sector, weakened by diesel scandal and cartel allegations, would make it even easy for her at the moment.”

Read the commentary in German here.