Potentially major consequences
German politicians furious after glyphosate vote
German political parties are furious after agriculture minister Christian Schmidt's yes vote to glyphosate. The country abstained from a choice in previous voting rounds, but now decided to make the final decision. This while neighboring France opted for the no camp. The illegal action may have major consequences.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has already scolded Christian Schmidt, of the conservative party CSU. According to her, such an action should never happen again. The outgoing government has already decided to abstain from voting. Schmidt ignored that decision.
Weight of Germany
Other political parties do not leave it at that. They are furious. Alex Vogel, party leader of the Greens, demands the departure of the minister. Merkel does not sideline the minister himself, then his own party must do so. However, CSU leader Ingo Senftleben argues that glyphosate would have received an extension even without the German vote. Schmidt's decision did not change that. However, politics is different. By having Germany vote in favour, the yes side gained a clear predominance in the discussion.
Set up plan
Various German media suggest that the decision was not taken solely by the minister. WDR, NDR and SZ demand public access to state documents. According to them, this vote has been prepared for months.
The formation of a new German government is anything but smooth. Schmidt's move comes at an extremely bad time for Merkel and the other parties. The consequences for national and international politics may be significant. If it turns out that the advice of politicians has been deliberately acted upon, this could create new obstacles for the renewal of glyphosate.
Niels van der Boom
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