In the end it was Robert Habeck’s show

Writer, futurist, historian and Habeck are guests. This is the final broadcast of presenter Anne Weil, who made German talk show history as the Chancellor’s whisperer. This time, instead of Angela Merkel, she left the stage to Vice Chancellor Green.

Choosing the final subject after sixteen years is certainly no easy task. But it couldn’t be more complicated. “A world in chaos – is Germany up to the challenges?” was the title of the 60 Minutes episode. Like a seasoned pianist, Will narrowed down the range of specific topics: Ukraine, Europe, the Middle East. The talk show only picked up speed in the last twelve minutes of the broadcast. The previous time can be defined as a large-scale exercise.

In a tough tone, the invited guests warned against populists, authoritarians and “the climate.” At one point, the museum’s president, Rafael Gross, started talking about his 2019 exhibition on democratic values. If the program had ended at this point, no viewer would have been able to quote a single question or answer from this program after it was stopped.

Traffic light government in crisis

But at 10:36 p.m., the anchor, dressed all in black, turned her attention to the economy minister to her right with big eyes. I preemptively asked for leniency on the following question: “I don’t want to spare you that, Mr. Habeck.” Will then addresses the traffic light government’s budget problems. Habeck discussed today with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner. “What happened?” Will asks pointedly.

The green politician actually spoke warmly and warmly in the last few minutes of the broadcast. “We are progressing step by step. “First we had to analyze the ruling, and now we are trying to compensate for the money,” Habeck answers in his characteristic philosophical style.

“what does that mean?” Will wants to know.
“This only works if unreasonable demands are tolerated elsewhere,” says Habeck.
“So we’re saving money?” Will asks
“That’s definitely part of it, of course,” Habeck says.

Anne Well followed by Carmen Moosga

The idea that Markus Lanz or Sandra Meischberger – two other greats of public broadcasting – would have let the Federal Economics Minister get away with such ambiguous phrases seems like a gamble.

But the Economy Minister does not want to get carried away with more content this evening. Will threw herself into questioning mode one last time. “Is it possible that you disagree?” she asked, both fingers pointing in opposite directions in a typical gesture.

But neither the well-known broadcaster nor the politician wanted to leave his nest unnecessarily this Sunday evening. Critics accused Anne Weil of making the conversation situation too comfortable. But this time too, Will lets the group finish quietly, as they wade towards their swan song.

“Thank you for sixteen years of enlightenment. “That was a tone-setter,” Habeck says slyly at the end of the program. You will find beautiful words from her team and her successor, “Tagesthemen” presenter Carmen Moosga, and then there are bouquets of flowers and a farewell film. At the end of a set of past performances from the last few years, Will says, “Bye, bye.”